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New algorithm helps select patients for urgent surgery or chemotherapy during pandemic

A new algorithm has been developed to select breast cancer patients in need of urgent surgery or chemotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic. The algorithm uses data from international trials to identify postmenopausal patients with primary ER+HER2- breast cancer who have less endocrine-sensitive tumours and should be prioritized for ear...

SourceThe Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust·Journalnpj Breast Cancer·DateJun 8, 2020

Gold mining with mercury poses health threats for miles downstream

A study by Duke University scientists found that native communities hundreds of kilometers away from gold mining in the Peruvian Amazon have high levels of mercury exposure, leading to intellectual deficits and IQ losses. Children with higher mercury levels in their hair showed cognitive effects, even at lower exposure levels.

SourceDuke University·JournalJournal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology·DateMay 28, 2020

Advanced manufacturing game changer

A team of Louisiana engineers and scientists, with federal funding from the National Science Foundation, are developing new technologies and materials to enhance structural safety and integrity in 3-D printing. They will use machine learning to efficiently discover and test optimal material compositions and processing methods.

New guidance for the assessment of Fracture Liaison Services at a patient outcome level

The International Osteoporosis Foundation has developed a new patient-level performance indicator set to measure the effectiveness of fracture liaison services (FLS) and guide quality improvement. The set includes 11 indicators that assess various aspects of FLS, including patient outcomes and treatment recommendations.

SourceInternational Osteoporosis Foundation·JournalOsteoporosis International·DateApr 16, 2020

Public policies push schools to prioritize creating better test-takers over better people

Public schools in the US have shifted their focus to academic excellence, prioritizing standardized test scores over personal growth, job skills, and student self-awareness. The UB-led study found a significant rise in the ranking of academic excellence among public school principals, while personal growth and job skills declined.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalEducational Administration Quarterly·DateApr 8, 2020

How molecules self-assemble into superstructures

A research team of physicists and chemists from Kiel University mimicked self-assembly processes to fabricate various patterns of controllable sizes, including the largest structures reported so far. They developed a model of intermolecular forces driving the self-assembly, enabling control over pattern size.

SourceKiel University·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateMar 19, 2020

How to slow down ageing?

Scientists studied monocytes in young and elderly individuals, finding that energy production decreases and inflammation markers increase with age. This research provides a foundation for understanding age-related changes and potential solutions to slow down vascular calcification and atherosclerosis.

SourceEstonian Research Council·JournalAging Cell·DateMar 19, 2020

Computing with molecules: A big step in molecular spintronics

A team of researchers from Kiel University has developed more stable spin states in molecules, enabling potential applications in computing and data storage. The newly created compounds feature three properties that are coupled together to create a self-assembling switch, revolutionizing the field of molecular spintronics.

SourceKiel University·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateDec 23, 2019

Electronics at the speed of light

Researchers at the University of Konstanz have successfully controlled ultrafast motion of electrons in a metallic nanocircuit using light manipulation. The new method could speed up electronic switching in devices, enabling faster processing and higher performance.

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalNature Physics·DateDec 23, 2019

Tracking thermodynamic fundamentals

Researchers at Kiel University successfully measured entropy in complex plasmas using video microscopy and laser technology. They found that the thermodynamic fundamentals are fulfilled, leading to new insights into strongly coupled systems.

SourceKiel University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateDec 18, 2019

Trashed farmland could be a conservation treasure

Researchers propose transforming low-productivity agricultural land into conservation reserves, which could help nations meet their United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The approach recognizes the value of uncontested lands, allowing for quicker and cheaper conservation efforts than traditional methods.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalNature Sustainability·DateDec 10, 2019

Brewing beer that tastes fresh longer

Researchers have engineered lager yeast to produce more molecules that protect beer against staling, resulting in improved flavor stability. The modified strains produced 26.3-47.3% less acetaldehyde and increased levels of sulfur dioxide, a natural antioxidant.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry·DateDec 4, 2019

Electron correlations in carbon nanostructures

Researchers from Kiel and Copenhagen developed a new computational model to simulate the detailed behavior of electrons in graphene nanoribbons. The model predicts that correlation effects due to electron repulsion have a dramatic influence on local energy spectrum, enabling precise control over electronic properties.

SourceKiel University·JournalNano Letters·DateDec 3, 2019

Rare diseases: Over 300 million patients affected worldwide

A recent study by Inserm US14 found that more than 300 million people worldwide are currently living with a rare disease, which represents around 4% of the world's population. The study analyzed data from the Orphanet database and estimated that this number could be higher due to many cases being unrecorded in healthcare systems.

SourceINSERM (Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale)·JournalEuropean Journal of Human Genetics·DateOct 24, 2019

The journey of the pollen

Researchers from Kiel University discovered a complex interplay of factors influencing pollen adhesion to surfaces. They found that pollen's adhesive properties change depending on the duration of contact and microstructure of the surface, providing new insights into coating processes and transporting medicinal substances.

SourceKiel University·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·DateAug 20, 2019

Towards a light driven molecular assembler

A team of Kiel University chemists built the first artificial molecular assembler, which uses light as the energy source. The system combines selective binding, accurate positioning, and active release of the product, solving the 'sticky fingers' problem.

SourceKiel University·JournalCommunications Chemistry·DateJul 23, 2019