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A robotic fish tail and an elegant math ratio could inform the design of next- generation underwater drones

University of Virginia researchers design a simple way to implement a tunable stiffness strategy in robots, enabling efficient swimming at varying speeds. The approach, inspired by the natural adaptability of fish, uses a programmable artificial tendon to adjust tail stiffness in real-time.

SourceUniversity of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalScience Robotics·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 11, 2021

Virtual avatar coaching with community context for adult-child dyads

A new study published in Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior found that virtual reality avatar-based coaching programs can spark dialogue about dietary habits and behavior among children and adults. The program showed promise to increase access and extend the reach of nutrition education for lower-income kids and families.

SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of Nutrition Education and Behavior·DateMar 8, 2021

Patient education program with mental health component reduces cardiovascular disease risks

A 12-month patient education program that integrated mental health information significantly reduced cardiovascular disease risks, improving measures such as fasting blood sugar, LDL cholesterol, and BMI. Patients who received the program maintained most of these improvements six months later.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalPreventive Medicine Reports·DateFeb 11, 2021

Patient organization challenges government to bring vital support to people with rheumatic diseases in Cyprus

The Cyprus League Against Rheumatism has successfully implemented the first rheumatology nurse educational program in Cyprus, improving patient care and safety skills. A randomized controlled trial shows that nurse-led patient education can significantly improve essential safety skills in patients with inflammatory arthritis.

Better ethics education needed in community-based research

Community-engaged research raises numerous ethical issues, including conflicts between academic and community partners, risks to groups not directly participating in the research, and distress among community partners. The authors propose several best practices and a detailed research agenda to address these concerns.

SourceLoyola Medicine·JournalJournal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics·DateMay 3, 2012