Innovative aquaculture system turns waste wood into nutritious seafood

Researchers hoping to rebrand a marine pest as a nutritious food have developed the world’s first system of farming shipworms, which they have renamed ‘Naked Clams’

Peer-Reviewed Publication

UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE

 

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NAKED CLAM JUVENILES IN PETRI DISH

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CREDIT: UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE

[Photographs and a copy of the paper are available here]

 

These long, white saltwater clams are the world’s fastest-growing bivalve and can reach 30cm long in just six months. They do this by burrowing into waste wood and converting it into highly-nutritious protein.

The researchers found that the levels of Vitamin B12 in the Naked Clams were higher than in most other bivalves – and almost twice the amount found in blue mussels.

And with the addition of an algae-based feed to the system, the Naked Clams can be fortified with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids - nutrients essential for human health.

Shipworms have traditionally been viewed as a pest because they bore through any wood immersed in seawater, including ships, piers and docks.

The researchers developed a fully-enclosed aquaculture system that can be completely controlled, eliminating the water quality and food safety concerns often associated with mussel and oyster farming.

And the modular design means it can be used in urban settings, far from the sea.

“Naked Clams taste like oysters, they’re highly nutritious and they can be produced with a really low impact on the environment,” said Dr David Willer, Henslow Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge’s Department of Zoology and first author of the report.

He added: “Naked Clam aquaculture has never been attempted before. We’re growing them using wood that would otherwise go to landfill or be recycled, to produce food that’s high in protein and essential nutrients like Vitamin B12.”

Scientifically named Teredinids, these creatures have no shell, but are classed as bivalve shellfish and related to oysters and mussels.

Because the Naked Clams don’t put energy into growing shells, they grow much faster than mussels and oysters which can take two years to reach a harvestable size.

The report is published today in the journal Sustainable Agriculture.

Wild shipworms are eaten in the Philippines - either raw, or battered and fried like calamari. But for British consumers, the researchers think Naked Clams will be more popular as a ‘white meat’ substitute in processed foods like fish fingers and fishcakes.

“We urgently need alternative food sources that provide the micronutrient-rich profile of meat and fish but without the environmental cost, and our system offers a sustainable solution,” said Dr Reuben Shipway at the University of Plymouth’s School of Biological & Marine Sciences, senior author of the report.

He added: “Switching from eating beef burgers to Naked Clam nuggets may well become a fantastic way to reduce your carbon footprint.”

The research is a collaboration between the Universities of Cambridge and Plymouth, and has attracted funding from sources including The Fishmongers’ Company, British Ecological Society, Cambridge Philosophical Society, Seale-Hayne Trust, and BBSRC

The team is now trialling different types of waste wood and algal feed in their system to optimise the growth, taste and nutritional profile of the Naked Clams – and is working with Cambridge Enterprise to scale-up and commercialise the system.

ENDS.

Naked Clams in wooden growth panel

Excited students seeing Naked Clams in aquarium

CREDIT

University of Plymouth

Reference

Willer, D.F. et al: ‘Naked Clams to open a new sector in sustainable nutritious food production.’ Sustainable Agriculture, Nov 23. DOI: 10.1038/s44264-023-00004-y

 

About the University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge is one of the world’s top ten leading universities, with a rich history of radical thinking dating back to 1209. Its mission is to contribute to society through the pursuit of education, learning and research at the highest international levels of excellence.

The University comprises 31 autonomous Colleges and 150 departments, faculties and institutions. Its 24,450 student body includes more than 9,000 international students from 147 countries. In 2020, 70.6% of its new undergraduate students were from state schools and 21.6% from economically disadvantaged areas.

Cambridge research spans almost every discipline, from science, technology, engineering and medicine through to the arts, humanities and social sciences, with multi-disciplinary teams working to address major global challenges. Its researchers provide academic leadership, develop strategic partnerships and collaborate with colleagues worldwide.

The University sits at the heart of the ‘Cambridge cluster’, in which more than 5,300 knowledge-intensive firms employ more than 67,000 people and generate £18 billion in turnover. Cambridge has the highest number of patent applications per 100,000 residents in the UK.

www.cam.ac.uk

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DOI

10.1038/s44264-023-00004-y 

ARTICLE TITLE

Naked Clams to open a new sector in sustainable nutritious food production

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

20-Nov-2023

 

Microbiome development: Bacteria lay the foundations for their descendants

Biology: Publication in Microbiome

Peer-Reviewed Publication

HEINRICH-HEINE UNIVERSITY DUESSELDORF

 

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VARIOUS STAGES IN THE LIFE OF THE SEA ANEMONE NEMATOSTELLA VECTENIS. TOP LEFT: EGGS, CENTRE LEFT: VARIOUS STAGES OF GROWTH, RIGHT: THE ADULT ANIMAL. (PHOTO: HHU/HANNA DOMIN)

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CREDIT: HHU/HANNA DOMIN

The microbiome (the symbiotic community of microbial organisms of a host) is of existential importance for the functioning of every plant and animal, including human beings. A research team from Düsseldorf and Kiel headed by Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) has now used the example of the sea anemone Nematostella vectenis to investigate how the microbiome develops together with the host. In the scientific journal Microbiome, the researchers describe that the bacterial community is primarily controlled by the host organism during the early stages of life, while bacteria-bacteria interactions play the lead role in subsequent development.

Every multicellular living creature – from the simplest organisms to human beings – lives in a community with a multitude of microorganisms, the so-called microbiome. This microbiome comprises bacteria, fungi and viruses among other things and assumes various roles ranging from metabolism to immune defence. For example, without the microbiome in the human intestine, many nutrients could not be absorbed from food and made available to the human body.

But how does the microbiome develop as the host develops? It is known that the composition and ratio of the microorganisms in the sea anemone Nematostella vectenis differ fundamentally between the different stages in its life cycle and only assume a stable form in the adult anemone. But who and which factors decide how the microbiome changes as the host matures – does the host control colonisation with the right microbes or do the microbes regulate themselves?

A team from HHU, Kiel University (CAU) and the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel addressed this question. The study was headed by Professor Dr Sebastian Fraune from the Institute of Zoology and Organismic Interactions at HHU. The research was conducted within the framework of the Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) 1182 “Origin and Function of Metaorganisms”, which is headed by CAU.

Dr Hanna Domin, lead author of a study that has now been published in Microbiome: “We took adult Nematostella polyps, which had no microbiome following intensive antibiotic treatment, and then recolonised them in a targeted way. To do this, we used bacterial communities that corresponded to those of firstly a Nematostella larva, secondly a juvenile animal and thirdly an adult polyp.”

In all three cases, the researchers examined how the microbiome developed over the course of time. They discovered that only the initial colonisers – i.e. the bacteria forming the microbiome of the youngest animals – became really well-established in the adult polyps. By contrast, it was difficult for the bacteria from older animals to become established.

Professor Fraune, corresponding author of the study: “Following recolonisation, the microbiome then undergoes a development process that is very similar to the normal development of host and microbiome. It takes around four weeks to reach the same status as adult animals that have undergone a normal growth process.”

The researchers conclude from this that the host – presumably through its innate immune system – controls the composition of the original colony. Domin: “However, the host no longer has a significant influence over the further development of the microbiome after this point. The bacteria control this themselves and lay suitable foundations for their descendants.”

One important aspect of the project, which was driven forward by the research group headed by Professor Dr Christoph Kaleta in Kiel, was the examination of so-called metabolic networks. This involved investigating how the different bacteria are linked via their metabolism and influence each other. “We were able to identify metabolic pathways, which are specific to the initial colonisers as well as pathways that only play a role at a later stage,” says Dr Johannes Zimmermann from CAU.

The research team established that the degradation of the polysaccharide chitin plays a central role for the initial colonisers in particular. It was only recently discovered that Nematostella can produce chitin. Why the animals do this was however unknown as they for example – by contrast with insects – do not need chitin for their structural development. Fraune: “Our results provide clear indications that chitin plays a role for the microbiome.”

The sea anemone only has an innate immune system. Nevertheless, the results are also relevant for medical research. Newborn babies come into contact with numerous bacteria immediately after birth, whereby they also only have an innate immune system at that phase in their lives. Consequently, initial colonisation with the right microbes is also key to establishing a functioning microbiome and training the adaptive immune system in humans.

Fraune: “It has been noted that the microbiome development of children born by Caesarean section who have only limited contact with the bacterial communities of the mother during birth frequently differs to that of children born naturally.” However, disrupted microbial colonisation during the early development phase changes metabolic and immune programming, and appears to be connected with an increased risk of immune system and metabolic disorders. For this reason, initial studies are being conducted in which children born by Caesarean section are brought into contact with the vaginal secretions of the mother immediately after birth to ensure natural initial colonisation.

Original publication:

H. Domin, J. Zimmermann, J. Taubenheim, G. Fuentes Reyes, L. Saueressig, D. Prasse, M. Höppner, R. A. Schmitz, U. Hentschel, C. Kaleta and S. Fraune; Sequential host‑bacteria and bacteria‑bacteria interactions determine the microbiome establishment of Nematostella vectensis; Microbiome 11, 257 (2023).

DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01701-z

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JOURNAL

Microbiome

DOI

10.1186/s40168-023-01701-z 

ARTICLE TITLE

Sequential host‑bacteria and bacteria‑bacteria interactions determine the microbiome establishment of Nematostella vectensis

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

18-Nov-2023

 

More needs to be done to prevent dependence on pain medication

Peer-Reviewed Publication

UNIVERSITY OF SURREY

 

Dependence on pain medication is on the rise due to lack of vigilance by medical professionals, according to a new study from the University of Surrey. Patients dependent on pain medication describe feelings of 'living in a haze' and being ignored and misunderstood by the medical profession.

In the first study of its kind in the UK, Louise Norton and Dr Bridget Dibb from the University of Surrey investigated the experiences of patients dependent on medication for chronic pain. Pharmacological treatment for chronic pain usually involves potentially addictive substances such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, gabapentinoids, and opioids. Increased prescription levels of such pain relief medications have been associated with heightened levels of overdose and misuse.

Dr Bridget Dibb, Senior Lecturer in Health Psychology at the University of Surrey, said:

“An increasing number of people are experiencing chronic pain, which can interfere with their daily life and lead to depression and anxiety. Medication can help alleviate pain and return a sense of normalcy to a person’s life; however, there is a risk of dependence, which can potentially cause damage to vital organs, including the liver and kidneys.

“The first step to tackle this problem is to learn more about a person’s experience, how they perceive their dependence and how they interact with others, including the medical profession.”

To learn more, interviews were carried out with nine participants who had become dependent on pain medication. Participants spoke about how their dependence on pain medication resulted in them feeling not fully present and removed from their lives due to the side effects of the treatment. Many also expressed frustration about the lack of alternative treatment options available on the NHS to manage their pain, with medications being too readily prescribed.

The majority of participants also spoke about their negative interactions with medical professionals, with some attributing the cause of their dependence on them.  Many believed a lack of continuity between doctors led to missed opportunities in spotting their dependence, enabling it to continue.

Louise Norton added:

“Relationships with medical professionals substantially affect the experiences of those with painkiller dependence. Doctors can often be seen as authority figures due to their expertise and so patients may be apprehensive to question their treatment options. However, through providing patients with thorough information, doctors can enable more shared-decision making in which patients feel better supported and equipped to manage their chronic pain.”

Researchers noted participants felt stigmatised when speaking with others about their dependence due to a lack of understanding about their reliance to prescribed pain medications. Such interactions left participants feeling ashamed and critical of themselves.

Dr Dibb added:

“Those with a dependence on prescription painkillers not only have to navigate their reliance on the medication but the shame and guilt associated with such a need. Combining this with feelings of being misunderstood and ignored by medical professionals, they have a lot of emotional needs to be managed alongside their physical pain. To prevent this from happening medical professionals need to be more vigilant when prescribing medication and ensure that their patients are fully aware of the risk of dependence before they begin treatment.”

This study was published in the journal Pain and Therapy.

###

Notes to editors

• Dr Bridget Dibb is available for interview upon request. 

For more information, please contact mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk

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JOURNAL

Pain and Therapy

DOI

10.1007/s40122-023-00553-7 

 

Decentralized influencers: How opinion leaders on Twitter (X) shape the Bitcoin discussion

New study identifies decentralized opinion leaders and their impact on the Bitcoin discourse, categorizing eight types of influencers with varying communication styles and topics

Reports and Proceedings

JOHANNES GUTENBERG UNIVERSITAET MAINZ

 

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BITCOIN INFLUENCERS ON TWITTER (X)

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CREDIT: ILL./©: HRISTO BUTCHAROV

Bitcoin has made global headlines in recent years, with a significant portion of the cryptocurrency discourse taking place on Twitter, renamed X this year. A single tweet by Elon Musk, who in 2021 announced on Twitter that Bitcoin would be accepted in payment for Tesla products, can have significant impact on the crypto market as a whole. Yet there are others on Twitter who also play a role in shaping the way Bitcoin is viewed. A recent study by Constantin Lichti, Endrit Ademi, and Professor Andranik Tumasjan of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) revealed that certain crypto influencers who act as opinion leaders on Twitter can significantly impact the Bitcoin discourse. The team analyzed 115 million Bitcoin-related tweets posted from 2009 to 2022 and, on the basis of this extensive analysis, presented an opinion leader index that identified such influencers and classified them into eight different archetype groups.

From Michael Saylor to Elon Musk and PlanB: Who shapes the Bitcoin debate on Twitter?

The opinion leader index aims to identify the most important Bitcoin influencers, using six indicators including reputation and audience reach. "If at least three of the six criteria are met, we consider the person a Bitcoin opinion leader or 'BOL' on Twitter," stated Constantin Lichti.

Using this scoring scheme, 218 Twitter users were identified who met at least three criteria. It turned out that only two opinion leaders, Michael Saylor and Anthony Pompliano, met all six criteria, highlighting their importance and influence among the Bitcoin community. The BOLs have, on average, slightly more than one million followers. Almost half (49 percent) of the corresponding BOL accounts are "verified," i.e., they have been confirmed as both notable and authentic. The average age of these accounts is just under 10 years, indicating that these BOLs have been active for some considerable time. The high rate of public engagement with these accounts is demonstrated by the average interaction counts – likes (250), retweets (36), and replies (28). More than one third (38 percent) of tweets are replies, demonstrating a high level of interaction of these BOLs with their audiences.

Eight archetypes of Bitcoin influencers

Using their scheme of six criteria, the researchers categorized the 218 BOLs into eight different archetype groups, also taking into account Bitcoin critics and influencers who remain anonymous. They designated their groups as follows: Bitcoin Maximalists (such as Tone Vays), Crypto All-Stars (such as Vitalik Buterin), Millionaire Magnets (such as Elon Musk), Engagement Gurus (such as Lark Davis), Bitcoin Conversationalists (such as Tiffany Hayden), Persistent Pundits (such as Elizabeth Stark), Incognito Influencers (such as PlanB), and Confrontational Conversationalists (such as Peter Schiff).

The team also analyzed their text corpus using the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) software. This is a systematically constructed dictionary with more than 12,000 predefined words and word stems that allows its users to quantify specified linguistic categories and detect subtle language variations. The results showed that each archetype has an individual communication style and content focus that ranges from financial and technological aspects to power and politics.

Strong correlations between Bitcoin influencer activities and the Bitcoin price

The research team also found that, in the years 2009 to 2022, there was a strong link between the opinion leaders' tweet activities and the engagement of their audiences and what happened to the Bitcoin price. "It is remarkable how closely their communications correlated with Bitcoin price performance, despite the fact that they were using differing communication strategies," emphasized Endrit Ademi.

Moreover, the study revealed that the opinion leader index represents a suitable tool for identifying influencers in other decentralized contexts and active on other social media platforms. "Our analysis has provided insights into the mechanisms of opinion leadership in decentralized settings that are characterized by technologies such as Bitcoin," added Professor Andranik Tumasjan.

In summary, the study's findings underscore the growing importance of influencers and social media in the cryptocurrency space. Lichti advises anyone with interest in or active in the Bitcoin and crypto world to follow the opinion leaders and the discussion on Twitter if they wish to better understand and assess the dynamics of the crypto scene.

Professor Andranik Tumasjan and his team are members of the Management and Digital Transformation (MDT) research group at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. Their work focuses on the interface between management and digital technologies, with a current emphasis on the potential of blockchain technology. This recent study on the Bitcoin discourse has been accepted for publication in the Proceedings of the 57th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS-57), which will be taking place from January 3rd to 6th, 2024 in Honolulu.

 

Publication:
C. Lichti, E. Ademi, A. Tumasjan
Decentralized Opinion Leadership: A Study of Crypto Influencers in the Twitter Discourse on Bitcoin
Conference Paper, Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS-57), January 3-6, 2024
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/373926923_Decentralized_Opinion_Leadership_A_Study_of_Crypto_Influencers_in_the_Twitter_Discourse_on_Bitcoin

 

Read more:
https://press.uni-mainz.de/high-tech-start-ups-benefit-from-twitter-hype/ – press release "High-tech start-ups benefit from Twitter hype" (16 Feb. 2021)

 

Infection-resistant, 3D-printed metals developed for implants

Peer-Reviewed Publication

WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY

 

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WSU RESEARCHERS TESTED THE NEWLY DEVELOPED MATERIAL FOR RESISTANCE TO FATIGUE. 

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CREDIT: WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY

PULLMAN, Wash. – A novel surgical implant developed by Washington State University researchers was able to kill 87% of the bacteria that cause staph infections in laboratory tests, while remaining strong and compatible with surrounding tissue like current implants.

The work, reported in the International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing, could someday lead to better infection control in many common surgeries, such as hip and knee replacements, that are performed daily around the world.  Bacterial colonization of the implants is one of the leading causes of their failure and bad outcomes after surgery.

“Infection is a problem for which we do not have a solution,” said Amit Bandyopadhyay, corresponding author on the paper and Boeing Distinguished Professor in WSU’s School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering. “In most cases, the implant has no defensive power from the infection. We need to find something where the device material itself offers some inherent resistance -- more than just providing drug-based infection control. Here we’re saying, why not change the material itself and have inherent antibacterial response from the material itself?”

Titanium materials used for hip and knee replacements and other surgical implants were developed more than 50 years ago and are not well suited to overcoming infections. Although surgeons often treat preemptively with antibiotics, life-threatening infection can occur right after surgery or weeks or months later as a secondary infection. Once an infection sets in as a fuzzy, fine film on an implant, doctors try to treat it with systemic antibiotics. In about 7% of implant surgery cases, though, doctors have to perform a revision surgery, removing the implant, cleaning the area, adding antibiotics and putting in another implant.

Using 3D-printing technology, the WSU researchers added 10% tantalum, a corrosion-resistant metal, and 3% copper to the titanium alloy typically used in implants. When bacteria come into contact with the material’s copper surface, almost all of their cell walls rupture. Meanwhile, the tantalum encourages healthy cell growth with surrounding bone and tissue leading to expedited healing for the patient. The researchers spent three years on a comprehensive study of their implant, assessing its mechanical properties, biology and antibacterial response both in the lab and in animal models. They also studied its wear to make sure that metal ions from the implant won’t wear off and move into nearby tissue causing toxicity.

“The biggest advantage for this type of multifunctional device is that one can use it for infection control as well as for good bone tissue integration,” said co-author Susmita Bose, Westinghouse Distinguished Professor in the school. “Because infection is such a big issue in today’s surgical world, if any multifunctional device can do both things, there’s nothing like it.”

The researchers are continuing the work, hoping to improve the bacterial death rate to the standard of more than 99% without compromising tissue integration. They also want to make sure that the materials offer good performance under real-world loading conditions that patients might use, such as for hiking in the case of a knee replacement.

The researchers are working with WSU’s Office of Commercialization and have filed a provisional patent. The work was funded by the National Institutes of Health and included collaboration with researchers from Stanford University and WSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

WSU professor Amit Bandyopadhyay tested how well the implants wear under continual use.

CREDIT

Washington State University

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JOURNAL

International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing

DOI

10.1088/2631-7990/ad07e7 

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

17-Nov-2023

 

Suboptimal follow-up, prevention in geriatric fall-related head trauma

Study explores follow-up with primary care physician, prevention strategies after emergency department visit

Peer-Reviewed Publication

FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY

 

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FAU Schmidt College of Medicine RESEARCHERS INVESTIGATED THE RATE OF PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN FOLLOW-UP BY OLDER ADULTS WHO SUSTAIN A FALL-RELATED HEAD INJURY RESULTING IN AN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISIT, THE RATE AND TYPE OF RISK ASSESSMENT AND ADOPTION OF PREVENTIVE STRATEGIES.

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CREDIT: ALEX DOLCE, FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY

Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries in the United States for adults ages 65 and older. With 1 in 4 older adults falling annually, 27,000 deaths, 8 million emergency department (ED) visits, and 800,000 hospitalizations have occurred.

Follow-up after an ED-related fall visit is essential to initiate preventive strategies in these patients who are at very high risk for recurrent falls. Currently, it is unclear how frequently follow up occurs and whether preventive strategies are implemented.

Researchers from Florida Atlantic University’s Schmidt College of Medicine and collaborators explored this issue by investigating the rate of follow-up by older adults who sustain a fall-related head injury resulting in an ED visit, the rate and type of risk assessment and adoption of preventive strategies.

The one-year prospective observational study was conducted at two Southeast Florida hospitals with level-one trauma centers and ED volumes of 50,000 and 68,000 patients. For the study, researchers identified 1,527 patients ages 65 and older who suffered a head trauma associated with a ground-level fall.

Researchers followed up with an initial phone call 14 days after discharge from the hospital and asked the following questions: “Have you followed up with your primary care physician (PCP) since being discharged from the hospital?,” “Did your PCP assess the reason that you fell?,” and “Have you or your PCP started any interventions since your original ED/hospital discharge?”

If participants answered “yes” to starting any interventions, recommendations for specific interventions were categorized into types based on exercise activity, home modification, physical therapy/occupational therapy/rehabilitation, mobility aid, medication change, health aid, medical intervention, and footwear modification. Clinical and demographic characteristics were compared between patients with and without follow up.

Results of the study, published in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine, showed that only about 60 percent of ED patients with fall-related head injury followed up with their PCP, while 72 percent received a fall assessment and only 56 percent adopted a fall prevention strategy. Participants with PCP follow-up were significantly more likely to have a history of cancer or hypertension. Findings indicate an urgent need to promote PCP physician fall assessment and adoption of prevention strategies in these patients.

“We found that older patients treated in the emergency department for a fall-related head injury have suboptimal primary care physician follow-up and inadequate adoption of fall prevention strategies,” said Richard Shih, M.D., senior author and a professor of emergency medicine in FAU’s Schmidt College of Medicine. “Only 59 percent of our study subjects had follow-up with their provider. Of the patients in our study that had primary care physician follow-up, 28 percent reported that there was no fall-risk assessment and 44 percent did not receive fall prevention interventions.”

Findings also show that when a PCP institutes a fall-prevention intervention, physical therapy is the most common (68 percent).

“When referred to physical therapy, patients may be more likely to adopt fall prevention interventions and home safety modifications that have been shown to reduce recurrent fall, hospitalization and mortality,” said Shih. “Given the importance of fall prevention in this high-risk group, we strongly endorse that fall-risk assessment and patient education is performed in the emergency department or by the primary care physician. The physician follow-up should include fall-risk assessment and initiation of any appropriate interventions to prevent subsequent falls and fall-related injury.”

Study co-authors are Joshua J. Solano, M.D., associate professor of emergency medicine; Gabriella Engstrom, Ph.D., senior project coordinator; Maya Khazem, an FAU medical student; Lisa M. Clayton, D.O., chair and associate professor, Department of Emergency Medicine; Michael Wells, Ph.D., research assistant professor, Department of Emergency Medicine; Patrick G. Hughes, D.O., associate professor of emergency medicine; Charles H. Hennekens, M.D., Dr.PH, Sir Richard Doll Professor and senior academic advisor; Joseph Ouslander, M.D., professor of geriatric medicine; Scott M. Alter, M.D., assistant dean for clinical research and an associate professor of emergency medicine, all within FAU’s Schmidt College of Medicine; Leila Posaw, M.D., an emergency medicine physician; and Lara Goldstein, M.D., an emergency medicine physician.

This work was supported by the Dr. Alvin E. Smith Safety of Health Care Services (Grant RFA No. 208-01); the Florida Medical Malpractice Joint Underwriting Association awarded to Shih.

- FAU -

About the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine:

FAU’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine is one of approximately 156 accredited medical schools in the U.S. The college was launched in 2010, when the Florida Board of Governors made a landmark decision authorizing FAU to award the M.D. degree. After receiving approval from the Florida legislature and the governor, it became the 134th allopathic medical school in North America. With more than 70 full and part-time faculty and more than 1,300 affiliate faculty, the college matriculates 64 medical students each year and has been nationally recognized for its innovative curriculum. To further FAU’s commitment to increase much needed medical residency positions in Palm Beach County and to ensure that the region will continue to have an adequate and well-trained physician workforce, the FAU Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine Consortium for Graduate Medical Education (GME) was formed in fall 2011 with five leading hospitals in Palm Beach County. The Consortium currently has five Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited residencies including internal medicine, surgery, emergency medicine, psychiatry, and neurology.

 

About Florida Atlantic University:
Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students across six campuses located along the southeast Florida coast. In recent years, the University has doubled its research expenditures and outpaced its peers in student achievement rates. Through the coexistence of access and excellence, FAU embodies an innovative model where traditional achievement gaps vanish. FAU is designated a Hispanic-serving institution, ranked as a top public university by U.S. News & World Report and a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. For more information, visit www.fau.edu.

 

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JOURNAL

The American Journal of Emergency Medicine

DOI

10.1016/j.ajem.2023.10.021 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Survey

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

ARTICLE TITLE

Lack of patient and primary care physician follow-up in geriatric emergency department patients with head trauma from a fall

 

Are vanadium flow batteries worth the hype? (video)

Business Announcement

AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY

 

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THERE’S A CENTURY-OLD TECHNOLOGY THAT’S TAKING THE GRID-SCALE BATTERY MARKET BY STORM. BASED ON WATER, VIRTUALLY FIREPROOF, EASY TO RECYCLE AND CHEAP AT SCALE, VANADIUM FLOW BATTERIES COULD BE THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPtaDqLsbnM

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CREDIT: THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 2023 — There’s a century-old technology that’s taking the grid-scale battery market by storm. Based on water, virtually fireproof, easy to recycle and cheap at scale, vanadium flow batteries could be the wave of the future. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPtaDqLsbnM

Reactions is a video series produced by the American Chemical Society and PBS Digital Studios. Subscribe to Reactions at http://bit.ly/ACSReactions and follow us on Twitter @ACSReactions.

The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS’ mission is to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and all its people. The Society is a global leader in promoting excellence in science education and providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple research solutions, peer-reviewed journals, scientific conferences, eBooks and weekly news periodical Chemical & Engineering News. ACS journals are among the most cited, most trusted and most read within the scientific literature; however, ACS itself does not conduct chemical research. As a leader in scientific information solutions, its CAS division partners with global innovators to accelerate breakthroughs by curating, connecting and analyzing the world’s scientific knowledge. ACS’ main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.