A new study published in The Journal of Engineering Research introduces a data-driven framework showing that hotel mergers can generate significant resource savings—even among already efficient hotels—by optimising operational inputs such as rooms, beds, staff, and salaries. The approach helps identify merger partnerships with the greatest potential efficiency gains in the hospitality sector.

A new study presents a general, nonparametric statistical inference theory for integrals of quantiles without assuming a particular sampling design or dependence structure. The authors discuss conditions for consistency, bias, and asymptotic normality, and illustrate how the framework applies to widely used quantities in risk and inequality measurement, including tail-value-at-risk as well as Lorenz and Gini curves. Notes for dependent (time-series) data are also provided.

Gender differences in poverty rates in the United States may be associated with women’s differing circumstances — particularly the burden of dependent children — rather than inherent to gender itself, according to a new study published March 11, 2026 in the open-access journal PLOS One by Patti Fisher of Virginia Tech, USA.

The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology has launched a new clinical trial for adults who need first-line therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). The study (Alliance A042302) will explore whether combining two targeted medicines, zanubrutinib and sonrotoclax, can effectively send cancer into remission, allowing patients to discontinue treatment until there is evidence the cancer has recurred.   

Augmented reality could transform job training for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In a new study, participants correctly completed just 14% of job-task steps on their own. With AR guidance, accuracy jumped to 93%, with some reaching 100%, and all achieved mastery across sessions. After only a 15-minute AR training session, participants reached at least 75% independence—progress that typically takes two to four months with traditional coaching—highlighting AR’s potential to accelerate workplace readiness and expand access to competitive employment.

Wavelogix, which licenses patented concrete strength sensor technology developed at Purdue University, has received an SBIR Phase IIB grant from the National Science Foundation worth $500,000. Wavelogix CEO Joe Turek said, “This investment from the NSF enables us to focus on the engineering and manufacturing improvements that will make the Rebel system ready for widespread commercial deployment. We’re at an inflection point where the technology can start delivering real value at scale for the construction industry.”