The press release
archive.

Physics13 Jul 2023

Investigating interactions at molecular junctions for novel electronic devices

The structure of a molecular junction with noncovalent interaction plays a key role in electron transport, reveals a recent study conducted by researchers at Tokyo Tech. Through simultaneous surface-enhanced Raman scattering and current–voltage measurements, they found that a single dimer junction of naphthalenethiol molecule shows three different bondings, namely π–π intermolecular and through-π and through-space molecule–electrode interactions. The π–π interaction is a type of noncovalent interaction that occurs when the electron clouds in the π orbitals ...

Read the release

Medicine13 Jul 2023

Researchers report advance in immune therapy against ALS

New research suggests that targeting autoimmune inflammation associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) using two drugs, one of them already approved for multiple sclerosis, could be a promising approach for treatment. ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. It leads to the gradual loss of muscle control, eventually resulting in paralysis and difficulty with speech, swallowing, and breathing. The exact cause of ALS is not fully understood, and currently, there is no cure ...

Read the release

Medicine13 Jul 2023

Taylor & Francis reduces plastic by introducing paperwrap for UK mailed journals

Taylor & Francis has taken a significant step in reducing unnecessary plastic use with the introduction of paperwrap for journal print copies mailed in the UK. Paperwrap, a relatively new packaging technology, has become more common in recent years, but is typically most suited to publications with very high print runs. Taylor & Francis’ Global Supplier Team spent several months investigating how it might be applied to journal print runs, which included rolling out live trial mailings to colleagues around the world to test how the journals could be packaged, and whether there was any impact on the speed ...

Read the release

Medicine13 Jul 2023

New talking therapy for depression could be more effective and cheaper than CBT

A new talking therapy for depression has shown encouraging early signs of being more effective and cheaper to deliver than the current best practice of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). A pilot trial from the University of Exeter, funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) and published in Lancet EClinical Medicine, has found Augmented Depression Therapy (ADepT) could be a significant advance in depression care. A core feature of depression is anhedonia (reduced ...

Read the release

Science13 Jul 2023

Three ways to fight invasive Prosopis juliflora tree in Eastern Africa all proved very effective, new study shows

A team of scientists led by CABI have conducted a new study which shows that three ways to fight the invasive Prosopis juliflora tree in Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania all proved very effective in almost all cases. The three-year research, published in the journal CABI Agriculture and Bioscience, revealed that cut stump and basal bark herbicide application and manual uprooting were highly effective, killing the trees in between 85-100% of cases. In addition, three incremental restoration interventions were tested ...

Read the release

Science13 Jul 2023

Poignant photo project reveals all we lost in lockdown

Laptops and schoolwork on kitchen tables, a deserted playground, face masks on a washing line, an empty church, a walk in the woods. As the UK Covid inquiry continues for a fifth week, researchers at the University of East Anglia have created a unique snapshot of lockdown life. When the pandemic first hit, the team embarked on a project to track the physical and mental health of the nation. More than a thousand participants signed up and up and they were followed every day for three months in the first study of its kind. As well as keeping daily lifestyle diaries about their physical activity, diet and mood, ...

Read the release

Medicine13 Jul 2023

Butterfly species’ big brains adapted giving them a survival edge, study finds

Heliconius butterflies’ brains grew as they adopted a novel foraging behaviour, scientists at the University of Bristol have found. A region of their brain, known as the mushroom body due to its shape, are two to four times larger than those of their close relatives. The findings, published today in Nature Communications, suggest that the structure and function of the nervous system are closely linked to an organism's ecological niche and behaviour. Dr Stephen Montgomery of Bristol’s School of Biological Sciences explained: “Heliconius are the only butterflies known to collect and digest pollen, which gives them an adult source ...

Read the release

Medicine13 Jul 2023

Combination cancer therapies can shrink tumors and improve survival outcomes for patients with advanced non-small lung cancer

New Haven, Conn. — While pembrolizumab is an approved treatment for patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), only some patients respond to this therapy. Treatment failure, researchers say, is often caused by differences in the tumor microenvironment. An ongoing phase II study (KEYNOTE-495/KeyImPaCT) led by a researcher at Yale Cancer Center reveals that combining pembrolizumab with other treatments reduced the size of target tumors, resulting in a higher response rate for patients with advanced NSCLC. The new research was published July 10 in Nature Medicine. “We are excited to share these new ...

Read the release

Technology12 Jul 2023

NSF CAREER award invests in the future of stable computing

Every night, uncounted numbers of devices across the globe update their operating systems (OS), and everyday users log on expecting fast, secure connections and services to keep their increasingly online lives moving forward. But as artificial intelligence and other more complex systems come online, the foundation of all them is teetering. Every aspect of society — from government and industry to education and entertainment — relies on devices with stable operating systems. And every OS relies on ...

Read the release

Medicine12 Jul 2023

Collaborative seed grants nurture high-impact social and environmental research

The National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration have collectively awarded millions of dollars in grant funding to numerous Virginia Tech researchers who all have one thing in common. They were awarded Emerging Social Aspects of Global Change seed funding. Since 2015, this funding has led to faculty from seven colleges and 15 departments collaborating and engaging in 10 research projects that address the social or policy aspects of major global environmental issues. Sponsored by Fralin Life Sciences Institute’s Global Change Center and the Institute ...

Read the release

Medicine12 Jul 2023

The picture of health: Virginia Tech researchers enhance bioimaging and sensing with quantum photonics

Imagine you just swallowed a pill containing a miniature camera that will help your doctor collect images to diagnose a condition you’ve been battling for years. No, it’s not something from the latest science fiction or Marvel Comics movie – it’s a technique called bioimaging. While traditional methods of bioimaging such as an MRI, CT scan, or an X-ray are more commonly known, the use of nanodevices is becoming more popular. They are less invasive and provide health care professionals with a closer look deep inside tissue. Researchers from Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering and College of Science are using their expertise ...

Read the release

Medicine12 Jul 2023

Virginia Tech awarded $3.4 million grant to study the environmental effects of utility-scale solar installations

As utility-scale solar farms become more widespread as a source of renewable energy, Virginia Tech scientists are researching environmental consequences with respect to stormwater and the sediment and nutrients transported in runoff. With a $3.4 million grant from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, researchers from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will lead a comprehensive six-year study to determine how utility-scale solar farms impact stormwater runoff and local soil and water quality throughout the state. “Solar is probably going to be the No. 1 land use change that will occur over the next decade in many parts of Virginia, particularly in existing ...

Read the release

Medicine12 Jul 2023

Rare brain tumor responds to targeted tumor treatment with ‘unprecedented’ success

Papillary craniopharyngiomas (PCPs) are a rare type of brain tumor that cause substantial morbidity for patients. While surgery and radiation are often used to treat PCPs, incomplete removal of the tumor and toxicity from radiation can leave patients with life-long health challenges after treatment, including neuroendocrine dysfunction or vision or memory loss. Investigators from the Mass General Cancer Center, a member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, led the first multicenter treatment protocol in this rare tumor. The study was based on laboratory discoveries by Mass General Brigham researchers who studied the genetic drivers of PCP growth, ...

Read the release

Environment12 Jul 2023

Salinity changes threatening marine ecosystems, new UNF study shows

A groundbreaking study published today reveals the critical yet severely understudied factor of salinity changes in ocean and coastlines caused by climate change. The study was co-authored by an international team of researchers, including Dr. Cliff Ross, University of North Florida biology chair/professor, and Dr. Stacey Trevathan-Tackett, UNF biology graduate program alum and research faculty member at Deakin University in Australia. Changes in salinity, or salt content, due to climate change and land use can have potentially devastating impacts on vital coastal and estuarine ecosystems, yet this has rarely been studied until now. This new research provides valuable ...

Read the release

Science12 Jul 2023

Two UTA professors selected as Fulbright scholars

Two University of Texas at Arlington faculty members have received Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program awards from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Kevin Schug, Shimadzu Distinguished Professor of Analytical Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, will travel to Palacky University in Olomouc, Czech Republic, continuing a decades-long relationship that began during his days as a graduate student. Ling Xu, associate professor in the School of Social Work, will use the award to travel to Taiwan and embark on 10-month project to raise awareness about the ...

Read the release

Science12 Jul 2023

Daughters breastfed longer, and women accumulated greater wealth in ancient California matriarchal society

In a new study, researchers and members of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area are the first to publish evidence of wealth-driven patterns in maternal investment among ancient populations. Ancestors of the Muwekma Ohlone living 2,000 years ago at Kalawwasa Rummeytak in present-day Silicon Valley in California’s San Francisco Bay Area, placed high value on women’s economic contributions to their communities, according to the study. Women stayed in the villages in which they were born, and their male partners moved from their birth communities to join their wives’ families. Women’s intimate knowledge of the local ecology and female ...

Read the release

Science12 Jul 2023

Food insecurity rate hits 17% for the second time in 18 months

Food insecurity rate hits 17% for the second time in 18 months WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Reported food insecurity has reached 17%, matching the rate last reached in March 2022, according to the June Consumer Food Insights Report. The new report also includes consumer changes in food spending as a result of a hypothetical recession and sentiments on artificial intelligence. The survey-based report out of Purdue University’s Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainabilityassesses food spending, consumer satisfaction ...

Read the release

Medicine12 Jul 2023

Social isolation linked to lower brain volume

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 4 P.M. ET, WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2023 MINNEAPOLIS – Older people who have little social contact with others may be more likely to have loss of overall brain volume, and in areas of the brain affected by dementia, than people with more frequent social contact, according to a study published in the July 12, 2023, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study does not prove that social isolation causes brain shrinkage; it only shows an association. “Social isolation is a growing problem for older ...

Read the release

Medicine12 Jul 2023

Cetuximab's effectiveness and toxicity in advanced cutaneous squamous cell skin cancer

“Our data demonstrate that cetuximab plus radiotherapy represents an active treatment option for laCSCC, with manageable toxicity.” BUFFALO, NY- July 12, 2023 – A new research paper was published in Oncotarget's Volume 14 on July 7, 2023, entitled, “Effectiveness and toxicity of cetuximab with concurrent RT in locally advanced cutaneous squamous cell skin cancer: a case series.” Treatment for locally advanced cutaneous squamous cell cancers (laCSCC) remains poorly defined. Most laCSCC tumors express high levels of epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR). Cetuximab has activity in other EGFR expressing cancers and enhances the effectiveness ...

Read the release

Medicine12 Jul 2023

Award of Excellence for Arlington’s unique rideshare program

The University of Texas at Arlington received an Award of Excellence for Innovation from the International Parking & Mobility Institute (IPMI). The award was for the RAPID (Rideshare, Automation and Payment Integration Demonstration) program, a self-driving shuttle system for students and the general public that started in 2021. It was originally funded through the city of Arlington and a Federal Transit Administration grant, with additional support from the North Central Texas Council of Governments. Via Transportation Inc. and May Mobility also are partners in the program. RAPID, the first program in the United States to integrate on-demand, ...

Read the release

Medicine12 Jul 2023

Study quantifies long term trends in childlessness and infertility treatment

The incidence of primary involuntary childlessness, the rate of women seeking treatment for infertility, as well as the success rate of assisted reproductive technology all increased in birth cohorts studied from 1916 to 1975, according to a new study published this week in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Finn Egil Skjeldestad of the Arctic University of Norway. There have been tremendous advances in assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) over the past 50 years. In the new study, Dr. Skjeldestad analyzed data on 11,064 women born between 1916 and 1975 ...

Read the release

Medicine12 Jul 2023

Ice Age saber-tooth cats and dire wolves suffered from diseased joints

Ice Age saber-tooth cats and dire wolves experienced a high incidence of bone disease in their joints, according to a study published July 12, 2023 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Hugo Schmökel of Evidensia Academy, Sweden and colleagues. Osteochondrosis is a developmental bone disease known to affect the joints of vertebrates, including humans and various domesticated species. However, the disease is not documented thoroughly in wild species, and published cases are quite rare. In this study, Schmökel and colleagues identify signs of this disease in fossil limb bones of Ice Age saber-tooth cats (Smilodon fatalis) ...

Read the release

Science12 Jul 2023

Neutering practices for owned UK cats significantly influence feral, stray populations

A new mathematical model of UK cat populations suggests that neutering of cats that belong to people not only affects the population dynamics of owned cats, but also affects feral, stray, and shelter subpopulations. Jenni McDonald of Cats Protection and co-authors present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS ONE on July 12. More than ten million cats live as owned pets in UK homes, and hundreds of thousands of additional cats live in shelters or as free-roaming feral or stray cats. Cats may transition from any of these subpopulations to another. However, while many prior studies have investigated cat population ...

Read the release

Science12 Jul 2023

Slow population declines might be going undetected, while later rates of extinction could increase exponentially

Slow population declines might be going undetected, while later rates of extinction could increase exponentially ### Article URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0285945 Article Title: The rate of species extinction in declining or fragmented ecological communities Author Countries: Greece, USA Funding: The authors received no specific funding for this work. END ...

Read the release

Science12 Jul 2023

Simulation study of how body shapes and sizes affected energetic efficiency helps explain relative success of early Polynesian voyaging

Simulation study of how body shapes and sizes affected energetic efficiency helps explain relative success of early Polynesian voyaging ### Article URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0287290 Article Title: Estimated energetic demands of thermoregulation during ancient canoe passages from Tahiti to Hawaii and New Zealand, a simulation analysis Author Countries: USA, Australia, New Zealand Funding: AM received financial support from the Maritime Encounters (M21-0018) project funded by Sweden's Riksbankens Jubileumsfond. ...

Read the release