Matt Shipman

Dec 9, 2013

Researchers Develop System for Assessing How Effective Species Are at Pollinating Crops

From tomatoes to pumpkins, most fruit and vegetable crops rely on pollination by bees and other insect species – and the future of many of those species is uncertain. Now researchers from North Carolina State University are proposing a set of guidelines for assessing the performance of pollinator species in order to determine which species… 

Dec 5, 2013

Database Tracks Toxic Side Effects of Pharmaceuticals

Sometimes the cure can be worse than the disease. Pharmaceutical drugs are known for their potential side effects, and an important aspect of personalized medicine is to tailor therapies to individuals to reduce the chances of adverse events. Now researchers from North Carolina State University have updated an extensive toxicology database so that it can… 

Dec 4, 2013

Inventor, Electronics Innovator Baliga Wins IEEE’s Highest Award

Dr. Jayant Baliga, a Distinguished University Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at North Carolina State University and founding director of the university’s Power Semiconductor Research Center, has received the Medal of Honor from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Previous winners of the award include radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi and microchip co-inventor… 

Dec 4, 2013

Working Odd Shifts Can Hurt Parent-Child Relationships

Research from North Carolina State University shows that working a job that doesn’t keep 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. hours can hurt the relationships between parents and adolescents, increasing the likelihood that children will engage in delinquent behaviors. However, the researchers found that in some circumstances, an unconventional work schedule can be a benefit for… 

Dec 2, 2013

How Changing the Way We Study Gold Could Boost Communication Tech

Under the right circumstances, pushing on nothing is harder than pushing on something – at least when that “something” is gold. That’s the finding from a new materials science paper, and it’s a finding that could expedite the development of new wireless communication technologies. The Problem At issue are ohmic radio frequency microelectricalmechanical systems switches… 

Nov 25, 2013

Researchers Use Nanoscale ‘Patches’ to Sensitize Targeted Cell Receptors

Researchers from North Carolina State University and Duke University have developed nanoscale “patches” that can be used to sensitize targeted cell receptors, making them more responsive to signals that control cell activity. The finding holds promise for promoting healing and facilitating tissue engineering research. 

Nov 25, 2013

Companies That Screen Social Media Accounts Alienate Job Candidates

Research from North Carolina State University shows companies that screen the social media accounts of job applicants alienate potential employees – making it harder for them to attract top job candidates.  In some cases, social media screening even increases the likelihood that job candidates may take legal action against the offending company. 

Nov 21, 2013

Ultrasound, Nanoparticles May Help Diabetics Avoid the Needle

A new nanotechnology-based technique for regulating blood sugar in diabetics may give patients the ability to release insulin painlessly using a small ultrasound device, allowing them to go days between injections – rather than using needles to give themselves multiple insulin injections each day. The technique was developed by researchers at North Carolina State University… 

Nov 20, 2013

Researchers Integrate Single-Crystal BFO Onto a Silicon Chip, Open Door to Smart Devices

Researchers from North Carolina State University have for the first time integrated a material called bismuth ferrite (BFO) as a single crystal onto a silicon chip, opening the door to a new generation of multifunctional, smart devices. 

Nov 19, 2013

New Technique Controls Dimensions of Gold Nanorods While Manufacturing on a Large Scale

North Carolina State University researchers have a developed a technique for efficiently producing nanoscale gold rods in large quantities while simultaneously controlling the dimensions of the nanorods and their optical properties. The optical properties of gold nanorods make them desirable for use in biomedical applications ranging from imaging technologies to cancer treatment. 

Nov 18, 2013

Researchers Design Interactive Software to Target Teen Alcohol Use

If you want teens to avoid risky behavior, you can’t just give teenagers the facts – you have to get them to engage with the information, feel motivated to change, and have the confidence and skills to keep themselves safe. That’s the idea behind a project under way at NC State and the University of California,… 

Nov 14, 2013

New Approach Advances Wireless Power Transfer for Vehicles

Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed new technology and techniques for transmitting power wirelessly from a stationary source to a mobile receiver – moving engineers closer to their goal of creating highway “stations” that can recharge electric vehicles wirelessly as the vehicles drive by. 

Nov 7, 2013

Designing an Interactive Glimpse Into the Past

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by David Hill, an associate professor of architecture at NC State, about the unveiling of a digital humanities project to create three-dimensional visual and acoustic models of the courtyard of St. Paul’s Cathedral in 17th century London. The Virtual Paul’s Cross Project recreates the reading of a sermon by… 

Nov 7, 2013

Tackling the Barriers Between Health Professionals and Spanish-Speaking Communities

Communication is essential to doctors, nurses, and other health professionals, but language and cultural barriers prevent many people in the U.S. from communicating effectively with their health care providers. But language scholars in North Carolina are trying to improve the situation, with a suite of programs and resources designed to improve Spanish-language communication efforts for… 

Nov 6, 2013

Researchers Re-create Landmark 17th Century Cathedral, Speech in Virtual Space

Researchers at North Carolina State University have combined scholarship and new technologies to re-create the courtyard of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London as it stood in 1622, as well as a historic sermon made by poet John Donne in the courtyard. The project, which is a significant research tool for history, literature and religion scholars,…