The BETTER project, led by Dr. Sergei Sokolovski, will develop a secure data sharing system for multi-source health data analysis, overcoming GDPR challenges and enabling healthcare professionals to compare and integrate data securely at lower costs.
Aston University has established the Aston Institute for Membrane Excellence (AIME) with a £10m grant from Research England. The institute aims to develop novel biomimetic membranes through interdisciplinary collaboration between biology, physics, and chemistry.
Researchers found that a person-centered approach, trusting relationship, and proper training are crucial for effective peer support. Trained peer support can help plug gaps in medication advice and improve patient adherence to treatment.
New research at Aston University found that extra practice in blending printed letter sounds can significantly help struggling beginner readers. The study, led by Dr Laura Shapiro, showed that training on both sounding out letters and blending sounds is most beneficial for phonological awareness.
A new study at Aston University shows that children aged four and above consume 79% more calories when they are bored compared to a neutral mood. Children who were emotionally fed often ate five times more kilocalories when feeling bored.
Research at Aston University identified four eating behavior patterns in children: 'avid', 'happy', 'typical', and 'fussy'. Children with 'avid' eating behaviors are more likely to be overweight or obese, while caregivers' feeding practices vary significantly across the four categories. The study aims to provide tailored advice for par...
The study reveals that while CTFs showed small increases in saved sums, many accounts remained untouched and parents had forgotten or lost track of them. The research calls for revisiting the principles behind the programme to improve UK's financial resilience.
A team at Aston University has demonstrated that benchtop spectrometers can analyse pyrolysis bio-oils with high accuracy, comparable to expensive high-field spectrometers. This breakthrough makes NMR analysis of pyrolysis oils more accessible and affordable.
An Aston University researcher has overturned a fundamental principle in construction by showing that a hanging chain and an arch are incompatible mechanical systems. This finding highlights the limitations of traditional analogies used to design and assess curved structures.
Endometriosis suffers face significant barriers to timely diagnosis due to societal stigma surrounding periods, inadequate GP training, and challenges in distinguishing symptoms from normal menstrual pain. The study highlights the need for mandatory training on menstrual conditions during medical school to prioritize women's healthcare.
Researchers from Aston University and the University of York discovered new insights into how the human brain makes perceptual judgments of the external world. They found that humans can exploit 'defocus blur' to infer perceptual scale, but this process is crude and more heuristic than metrical analysis.
Dr. Vesna Najdanovic from Aston University won a $25,000 grant to develop greener analytical methods using ethyl lactate as a solvent for liquid chromatography. This environmentally friendly alternative reduces carbon footprint and pollution in the pharmaceutical industry.
The new CALANGO software helps untangle genetic factors associated with shared characteristics, such as antibacterial resistance and agricultural improvements. It enables scientists to explore vast amounts of genomic data across thousands of organisms.
Researchers at Aston University have discovered a new approach to process LDF light signals, allowing for more precise measurement of blood flow in specific areas of the vascular bed. This innovation has shown significant improvement in diagnostic accuracy for detecting microvascular changes in patients with type 2 diabetes and age-spe...
Aston University is setting up the first integrated centre to explore low carbon hydrogen production from biomass conversion. The new research centre will enable the acquisition of state-of-the-art equipment, including gasification, membrane separation and fuel cells.
Researchers at Aston University are working with Isterian Biotech to develop small molecule inhibitors targeting transglutaminase 2, a key enzyme in fibrosis. The goal is to stop or reverse pathological crosslinking of proteins that lead to fibrotic diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Researchers at Aston University have created the world's first computer reconstruction of a virus, including its complete native genome. This breakthrough could lead to the development of targeted treatments to kill bacteria that are dangerous to humans, reducing the threat of antibiotic resistance.
Researchers at Aston University discovered that mechanical vibrations can improve balance control and strengthen calf muscles. The study, published in Scientific Reports, suggests that whole-body vibration could be used to reduce falls and hospital bed days in older people.
New signal-processing algorithms have been shown to help mitigate the impact of turbulence in free-space optical experiments. The researchers achieved record results using commercially available photonic lanterns and a spatial light modulator to emulate turbulence.
Scientists at Aston University are developing processes to capture low-cost energy from rice straw, with the goal of powering Indonesia's households and reducing air pollution. The project aims to increase energy extraction from rice straw from 35% to 70%, providing a sustainable source of locally generated energy.
Scientists at Aston University are developing a new technology to provide surfaces with channels less than five nanometres in width, enabling increased capacity in data storage devices. The goal is to tackle the global shortage of digital data storage and reduce the need for costly construction of new mega data centres.
The Aston University Institute for Forensic Linguistics is part of the AUTHOR research consortium, which aims to infer authorship of uncredited documents based on writing style. The project will focus on feature discovery and has promising applications in identifying counterintelligence risks and combating misinformation online.
Research at Aston University found a significant link between childhood deprivation and impulsive behavior, leading to addictions and unhealthy choices later in life. The study showed that children from deprived areas had a higher discount rate, indicating a preference for immediate gratification.
A three-year research project led by Aston University aims to prevent epileptic seizures in children. The team will explore how epilepsy becomes established in the brain and test new drugs using living tissue samples.
Aston University scientist Dr Maria Pimenta da Costa Ocampo provides tailored low-carbon advice to clothes designer Debbie Murphy of Missfit Creations. The advice helps reduce carbon emissions by analyzing the recirculation of second-hand clothes, achieving CO2 equivalent of three tonnes.
A comprehensive study compared the accuracy of human speaker identification with that of an automatic-speaker-recognition system. The forensic-voice-comparison system performed better than all tested listeners, including judges and jurors. This finding has significant implications for courtroom proceedings.
A new book by Aston University financial regulation expert Dr Daniel Cash proposes a temporary change to the way credit ratings are decided to help poorer countries avoid downgraded ratings and borrow money for vital improvements like healthcare and infrastructure.
Researchers at Aston University have developed a method to produce high-quality biodiesel from spent coffee grounds by growing microalgae on the grounds. This innovative approach reduces competition with food crops and decreases greenhouse gas emissions from palm tree cultivation.
A new study published in iScience found that humans tend to follow a two-step process when in a crowd, with an initial reflexive imitation followed by a more deliberate strategic decision. The research suggests this influence affects not only social norms but also immediate actions and underlies behaviors such as rioting and mass panic.
A new curriculum aims to integrate nutrition education into medical students' general undergraduate training, highlighting its importance in patient care and disease management. The curriculum is designed to equip future doctors with knowledge and skills to consider nutrition's role in patient conditions.
Mathematicians at Aston University are developing computational modelling techniques to examine biological drag reduction methods, such as fish slime secreted by predator-avoiding fish. This project aims to reduce skin-friction drag and increase the performance range of electric vehicles, contributing to a reduction in CO2 emissions.
Scientists recorded facial expressions of 100 unborn babies to see how they reacted to carrot and kale flavours. Fetuses exposed to carrot showed more laughter-like responses, while those exposed to kale showed more crying-like responses. This study could help understand the development of human taste and smell receptors.
A study by Aston University confirms that taking a break every 20 minutes to look away from screens for at least 20 seconds reduces digital eye strain symptoms. The research, involving 29 participants, showed a marked decrease in symptoms such as dryness, sensitivity, and discomfort after using the reminders.
Scientists at Aston University developed a new treatment combining manuka honey with the widely used antibiotic amikacin to treat drug-resistant lung infections. The study found that this combination improved bacterial clearance and reduced side effects, benefiting patients with cystic fibrosis.
Researchers at Aston University have developed a new approach to tackle one of the underlying causes of asthma, not just its symptoms. The treatment, which targets the structural changes made by asthmatic airways, shows promising results in mice, reducing symptoms within two weeks and returning airways to near normal.
A study of 428 adults found that frequent fruit consumption is linked to lower depression scores and higher mental wellbeing, independent of overall quantity. In contrast, nutrient-poor savoury snacks like crisps were associated with increased 'everyday mental lapses' and symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression.
Researchers at Aston University have developed a new antibiotic combination that successfully treated a cystic fibrosis patient's deadly lung infection. The combination of imipenem/relebactam with amoxicillin eradicated the infection, enabling the patient to receive a lifesaving lung transplant.
A new study by Dr. Marin Marinov at Aston University proposes three solutions to make train commuting less stressful: purchasing tickets on smartphones, removing ticket gates and installing sensors, and implementing one-way flow systems in station concourses. These changes could reduce queuing times and promote social distancing.
A new study by Aston University reveals that Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) can improve their sustainability performance by adopting circular economy practices. The research found that SMEs in all participating countries are likely to achieve higher environmental performance through CE adoption, with products, processes, and...
New research at Aston University found that pre-school children's emotional eating is influenced by their innate food drive and mothers' eating habits. The study suggests that parenting practices, such as using food as a reward or restriction, can contribute to emotional eating in young children.
Aston University researchers developed an AI model that can estimate daily Covid transmission rates using data from antibody tests in blood donors. The model provides a more refined view of infection rates and relative immunity compared to official measurements.
Aston University researchers have developed a technique to boost antimicrobial properties of bioactive glass, which could reduce infections and antibiotic prescriptions. The new approach combines metal oxides, significantly improving bacterial kill rates over single oxides alone.
Aston University's Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies has received a £100,000 grant to support its research in food and agri-tech. The new equipment will enable the development of cost-effective photonic technology for quality control in food processing and manufacturing.
Research by Aston University psychologists found that children who watched adults eat green vegetables with positive facial expressions consumed more than double the amount of those vegetables. The study suggests that smiling while eating can encourage children to try and eat more, especially less popular vegetables like broccoli.
A new study from Aston University and New York University found that industrial firms in Beijing did not receive disproportionate economic benefits from hosting the 2008 Summer Olympics. The research suggests that SMEs have limited to no positive impact on the local economy.
A new study by Aston University found that social media users who view images of healthy foods with high 'likes' are more likely to make healthier food choices. Participants who viewed highly liked mock Instagram posts of fruit and vegetables ate a significantly higher proportion of grapes than cookies, increasing calorie consumption b...
A team of psychologists will study the relationship between children's appetite and parents' feeding practices to develop effective interventions for childhood obesity. The project aims to produce guidelines that can help support parents whose children have a strong motivation towards food.
Research published in BMJ Open suggests community pharmacy can support COVID-19 vaccination campaigns by addressing vaccine hesitancy and concerns. Community pharmacists can work with diverse ethnic backgrounds to enhance vaccine uptake rates.
Scientists are developing a 'brain on a chip' technology using human brain stem cells to solve complex problems, aiming to revolutionize machine learning. The Neu-ChiP project has the potential to break through current limitations of processing power and energy consumption.
A new machine learning model uses computer algorithms to measure poverty in different countries, providing a more holistic and multi-dimensional approach. The model can predict future poverty levels and plan interventions to alleviate the problem.