Taking salt out of the water equation

Peer-Reviewed Publication

KING ABDULLAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (KAUST)

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IMAGE: KAUST RESEARCHERS HAVE DEVELOPED A MEMBRANE (PICTURED ABOVE) WITH EXCELLENT WATER DESALINATION PERFORMANCE IN FORWARD AND REVERSE OSMOSIS CONFIGURATIONS. view more 

CREDIT: © 2022 KAUST; ANASTASIA SERIN.

Ultrathin polymer-based ordered membranes that effectively remove salt from seawater and brine could provide a promising alternative to existing water desalination systems, a KAUST-led team demonstrates.

 

“Water desalination membranes should simultaneously exhibit high water flux and high salt rejection,” says Yu Han, who led the study. Carbon nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes and graphene, are expected to meet these requirements because of their unique surface chemistry and propensity to stack into channels with diameters smaller than one nanometer. Yet, channel alignment and stacking difficulties make their large-scale use in membranes challenging.

 

“One way to address these limitations is through two-dimensional porous carbonaceous membranes with regular and uniformly distributed subnanometer-sized molecular transport channels,” says first author Jie Shen, a postdoc in Han’s group. However, these membranes are typically synthesized in solution, which promotes the random growth of a disordered three-dimensional structure with poorly defined micropores.

 

Yu Han, Vincent Tung, Ingo Pinnau and former KAUST scientist Lance Li, who is now at the University of Hong Kong, have developed a method that helps control the growth of two-dimensional conjugated polymer frameworks into ultrathin carbon films using chemical vapor deposition.

The researchers deposited the monomer triethynylbenzene on atomically flat single-crystalline copper substrates in the presence of an organic base that acts as a catalyst. Triethynylbenzene bears three reactive groups that serve as anchor points for additional monomers. These groups show a 120-degree angle with respect to each other, generating organized arrays of well-defined cyclic structures that stack into subnanometer-sized rhombic hydrophobic channels.

 

The membrane displayed excellent water desalination performance in forward and reverse osmosis configurations, surpassing those containing advanced materials such as carbon nanotubes and graphene. It also showed strong rejection for divalent ions, as well as small charged and neutral molecules.

 

The researchers discovered that the water molecules formed a three-dimensional network inside the membrane instead of moving through the membrane along vertical triangular channels as one-dimensional chains. This explains the fast water transport through the membrane. “This unexpected result revealed that the seemingly discrete vertical channels are actually interconnected by short horizontal channels that can be easily overlooked in the projected structural model,” Han says.

 

The team is now working on improving the antifouling property, mechanical strength and long-term chemical stability of the membrane for future practical applications. They are also fine-tuning its surface-charge properties and channel sizes. “Our ultimate goal is to provide a versatile multifunctional platform that meets the needs of various applications, such as ion sieving, single-molecule sensing and neural interfaces,” Han says.

Taking salt out of the water equation (VIDEO)

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JOURNAL

Nature Materials

DOI

10.1038/s41563-022-01325-y 

ARTICLE TITLE

Fast water transport and molecular sieving through ultrathin ordered conjugated-polymer-framework membranes

ICYMI

Mouthwashes may suppress SARS-CoV-2

Peer-Reviewed Publication

HOKKAIDO UNIVERSITY

 

IMAGE: CETYLPYRIDINIUM CHLORIDE (CPC), THE CHEMICAL TESTED IN THE STUDY (PHOTO: RYO TAKEDA) view more 

CREDIT: RYO TAKEDA

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is an airborne disease transmitted via aerosols, which are spread from the oral and nasal cavities—the mouth and the nose. In addition to the well-known division and spread of the virus in the cells of the respiratory tract, SARS-CoV-2 is also known to infect the cells of the lining of the mouth and the salivary glands.

A team of researchers led by Professor Kyoko Hida at Hokkaido University have shown that low concentrations of the chemical cetylpyridinium chloride, a component of some mouthwashes, has an antiviral effect on SARS-CoV-2. Their findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Commercially available mouthwashes contain a number of antibiotic and antiviral components that act against microorganisms in the mouth. One of these, cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), has been shown to reduce the viral load of SARS-CoV-2 in the mouth, primarily by disrupting the lipid membrane surrounding the virus. While there are other chemicals with similar effects, CPC has the advantage of being tasteless and odorless.

The researchers were interested in studying the effects of CPC in Japanese mouthwashes. Mouthwashes in Japan typically contain a fraction of the CPC compared to previously tested mouthwashes. They tested the effects of CPC on cell cultures that express trans-membrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2), which is required for SARS-CoV-2 entry into the cell.

They found that, within 10 minutes of application, 30–50 µg/mL of CPC inhibited the infectivity and capability for cell entry of SARS-CoV-2. Interestingly, commercially available mouthwashes that contain CPC performed better than CPC alone. They also showed that saliva did not alter the effects of CPC. Most significantly, they tested four variants of SARS-CoV-2—the original, alpha, beta and gamma variants—and showed that the effects of CPC were similar across all strains.

This study shows that low concentrations of CPC in commercial mouthwash suppress the infectivity of four variants of SARS-CoV-2. The authors have already begun assessing the effect on CPC-containing mouthwashes on viral loads in saliva of COVID-19 patients. Future work will also focus on fully understanding the mechanism of effect, as lower concentrations of CPC do not disrupt lipid membranes.

 

CAPTION

Antiviral efficacy of CPC against SARS-CoV-2 in cell cultures expressing TMPRSS2. For all of the four strains tested, a concentration of 40 µg/mL of CPC significantly reduced the viral titers, the number of virus particles. Asterisks indicate significant results (Ryo Takeda, et al. Scientific Reports. August 18, 2022).

CREDIT

Ryo Takeda, et al. Scientific Reports. August 18, 2022

 

CAPTION

Ryo Takeda (back row, orange t-shirt), first author, and Kyoko Hida (front row, yellow-green jacket), corresponding author of the study, with members of the Hida Group (Photo: Kyoko Hida).

CREDIT

Kyoko Hida

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JOURNAL

Scientific Reports

DOI

10.1038/s41598-022-18367-6 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Experimental study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Cells

ARTICLE TITLE

Antiviral effect of cetylpyridinium chloride in mouthwash on SARS‐CoV‐2

NTU Singapore scientists develop inexpensive device that can harvest energy from a light breeze and store it as electricity

Peer-Reviewed Publication

NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

 

IMAGE: (L-R) MR LIU ZICHENG, PHD STUDENT FROM NTU’S SCHOOL OF CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING (CEE), DR HU GUOBIAO, RESEARCH FELLOW FROM NTU’S CEE, MR ZHAO CHAOYANG, RESEARCH ASSOCIATE FROM NTU’S CEE, AND PROFESSOR YANG YAOWEN, ASSOCIATE CHAIR (FACULTY) OF NTU’S CEE. view more 

CREDIT: NTU SINGAPORE

Scientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have developed a low-cost device that can harness energy from wind as gentle as a light breeze and store it as electricity.

When exposed to winds with a velocity as low as two metres per second (m/s), the device can produce a voltage of three volts and generate electricity power of up to 290 microwatts, which is sufficient to power a commercial sensor device and for it to also send the data to a mobile phone or a computer.

The light and durable device, called a wind harvester, also diverts any electricity that is not in use to a battery, where it can be stored to power devices in the absence of wind.

The scientists say their invention has the potential to replace batteries in powering light emitting diode (LED) lights and structural health monitoring sensors. Those are used on urban structures, such as bridges and skyscrapers, to monitor their structural health, alerting engineers to issues such as instabilities or physical damage.

Measuring only 15 centimetres by 20 centimetres, the device can easily be mounted on the sides of buildings, and would be ideal for urban environments, such as Singaporean suburbs, where average wind speeds are less than 2.5 m/s, outside of thunderstorms[1].

The findings were published in the scientific peer-reviewed journal Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing in September.

Professor Yang Yaowen, a structural engineer from NTU’s School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), who led the project, said: “As a renewable and clean energy source, wind power generation has attracted extensive research attention. Our research aims to tackle the lack of a small-scale energy harvester for more targeted functions, such as to power smaller sensors and electronic devices. The device we developed also serves as a potential alternative to smaller lithium-ion batteries, as our wind harvester is self-sufficient and would only require occasional maintenance, and does not use heavy metals, which if not disposed of properly, could cause environmental problems.”

The innovation has received interest from the industry. The NTU research team is also working towards commercialising their invention.

The study, which presents an innovation that could help cut down on electronic waste and find alternative sources for energy, reflects NTU's commitment to mitigate our impact on the environment, which is one of four humanity’s grand challenges that the University seeks to address through its NTU 2025 strategic plan.

Riding the wind

The device was developed to harness efficient wind energy at low cost and with low wear and tear. Its body is made of fibre epoxy, a highly durable polymer, with the main attachment that interacts with the wind and is made of inexpensive materials, such as copper, aluminium foil, and polytetrafluoroethylene, a durable polymer that is also known as Teflon.

Due to the dynamic design of its structure, when the harvester is exposed to wind flow, it begins to vibrate, causing its plate to approach to and depart from the stopper. This causes charges to be formed on the film, and an electrical current is formed as they flow from the aluminium foil to the copper film.

In laboratory tests, the NTU-developed harvester could power 40 LEDs consistently at a wind speed of 4 m/s. It could also trigger a sensor device, and power it sufficiently to send the room temperature information to a mobile phone wirelessly.

This demonstrated that the harvester could not only generate electricity to consistently power a device, but that it could store excess charge that was sufficient to keep the device powered for an extended period in the absence of wind.

Prof Yang added: “Wind energy is a source of renewable energy. It does not contaminate, it is inexhaustible and reduces the use of fossil fuels, which are the origin of greenhouse gasses that cause global warming. Our invention has been shown to effectively harness this sustainable source of energy to charge batteries and light LEDs, demonstrating its potential as an energy generator to power the next generation of electronics, which are smaller in size and require less power.”

The NTU team will be conducting further research to further improve the energy storage functions of their device, as well as experiment with different materials to improve its output power. The research team is also in the process of filing for a patent with NTUitive, NTU’s innovation and enterprise company.

CAPTION

Professor Yang Yaowen demonstrating how the device can generate and store electricity when exposed to a breeze generated by a wind tunnel.

CREDIT

NTU Singapore

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[1] Meteorological Service Singapore. Climate of Singapore (2022).

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JOURNAL

Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing

DOI

10.1016/j.ymssp.2022.109185 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Meta-analysis

ARTICLE TITLE

A cantilever-type vibro-impact triboelectric energy harvester for wind energy harvesting

Wear and tear from lifelong stress can increase cancer mortality

Peer-Reviewed Publication

MEDICAL COLLEGE OF GEORGIA AT AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY

 

IMAGE: DR. JUSTIN X. MOORE view more 

CREDIT: MIKE HOLAHAN, AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY

AUGUSTA, Ga. (Oct. 6, 2022) – The wear and tear on the body from chronic and lifelong stress can also lead to an increased risk of dying from cancer, Medical College of Georgia researchers report.

That wear and tear, called allostatic load, refers to the cumulative effects of stress over time. “As a response to external stressors, your body releases a stress hormone called cortisol, and then once the stress is over, these levels should go back down,” says Dr. Justin Xavier Moore, epidemiologist at the Medical College of Georgia and Georgia Cancer Center. “However, if you have chronic, ongoing psychosocial stressors, that never allow you to ‘come down,’ then that can cause wear and tear on your body at a biological level.”

Investigators, led by Moore, performed a retrospective analysis of more than 41,000 people from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, or NHANES, collected between 1988-2019. That database includes baseline biological measures of participants — body mass index, diastolic and systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, hemoglobin A1C (higher levels indicate a risk for diabetes), albumin and creatinine (both measures of kidney function) and C-reactive protein (a measure of inflammation) — that the researchers used to determine allostatic load. Those with a score of more than 3 were categorized as having high allostatic load.

Then they cross referenced those participants with the National Death Index, maintained by the National Center for Health Statistics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to determine which people died from cancer and when, Moore explains.

“To date, there has been limited research on the relationship between allostatic load and cancer among a current, nationally representative sample of US adults,” Moore and his colleagues write in the journal SSM Population Health. “Examining the association of allostatic load on cancer outcomes, and whether these associations vary by race may give insight to novel approaches in mitigating cancer disparities.”

The researchers found that, even without adjusting for any potential confounders like age, social demographics like race and sex, poverty to income ratio and educational level, those with a high allostatic load were 2.4 times more likely to die from cancer than those with low allostatic loads.

“But you have to adjust for confounding factors,” Moore explains. “We know there are differences in allostatic loads based on age, race and gender.”

In fact, in previous research he and his colleagues observed that when looking at trends in allostatic load over 30 years among 50,671 individuals, adults aged 40 and older had greater than a 100% increased risk of high allostatic load when compared to adults under 30. Further, regardless of the time period, Black and Latino adults had an increased risk of high allostatic load when compared with their white counterparts. Much of that, Moore says, can be attributed to structural racism — things like difficulty navigating better educational opportunities or fair and equitable home loans.

“If you’re born into an environment where your opportunities are much different than your white male counterparts, for example being a black female, your life course trajectory involves dealing with more adversity,” he says.

Even when controlling for age, the researchers found that people with high allostatic load still have even 28% increased risk of dying from cancer. “That means that if you were to have two people of the same age, if one of those people had high allostatic load, they are 28% more likely to die from cancer,” Moore says.

Adjusting for sociodemographic factors including sex and race and educational level, high allostatic load led to a 21% increase; and further adjusting the model for other risk factors like whether participants smoked, previously had a heart attack, or been previously diagnosed with cancer or congestive heart failure, led to a 14% increase.

Moore and colleagues further examined the relationship between allostatic load and cancer mortality specifically among each racial/ethnic group (e.g., non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic white, and Hispanic adults). However, allostatic load was not as strongly related when broken down by race categories. These findings could be explained by the sheer size of the original sample.

“Epidemiologically, when looking at 41,000 people, there are many cancer related-death events,” Moore explains. “However, it is more difficult to ascertain a relationship between x (allostatic load) and y (cancer death) when you essentially have less datapoints to measure.” For example, limiting the sample to just non-Hispanic Blacks would mean analyzing a sample of just 11,000 people, so the relationship may look diminished or attenuated.

“The reason race even matters, is because there are systemic factors that disproportionately affect people of color,” he says. “But even if you take race out, the bottom line is that the environments in which we live, work and play, where you are rewarded for working more and sometimes seen as weak for taking time for yourself, is conducive to high stress which in turn may lead to cancer development and increased morbidity and mortality.”

In the United States, cancer is the second leading cause of death and it was responsible for an estimated 1.9 million cases and nearly 609,000 deaths in 2021.

Read the full study.

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JOURNAL

SSM - Population Health

ARTICLE TITLE

Exploring racial disparities on the association between allostatic load and cancer mortality: A retrospective cohort analysis of NHANES, 1988 through 2019

Game changers in fighting climate change: refuels are suitable for everyday use

Synthetic fuels based on renewable energy sources can be produced in large quantities and used in nearly all vehicles

Reports and Proceedings

KARLSRUHER INSTITUT FÜR TECHNOLOGIE (KIT)

 

IMAGE: REFUELS CAN BE USED IN NEARLY ALL VEHICLES. IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, LARGE QUANTITIES CAN BE PRODUCED. (PHOTO: MARKUS BREIG AND AMADEUS BRAMSIEPE, KIT) view more 

CREDIT: MARKUS BREIG AND AMADEUS BRAMSIEPE, KIT

Synthetic fuels produced from renewable sources, so-called refuels, are deemed potential game changers in fighting climate change. Refuels promise to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 90% compared to conventional fuels and they allow for the continued use of existing vehicle fleets with combustion engines and of the refueling infrastructure, from fuel production to transport to sales. Researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) carried out extensive fleet tests in a large-scale project with industry partners and proved that refuels can be used in all vehicles and produced in large quantities in the foreseeable future. The results of the research project “reFuels – Rethinking Fuels” were presented on Monday, September 19, in Karlsruhe.

“Use of climate-neutral fuels makes sense especially when battery-electrical solutions do not yet represent real alternatives. Hence, I am very happy that KIT has now succeeded in proving that refuels are both climate-friendly and economically efficient for certain applications,” says Berthold Frieß, Head of Department at the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Transport, at the presentation of results of “reFuels – Rethinking Fuels,” the first refuels project of the Strategy Dialog for the Automotive Sector in Baden-Württemberg. “The project also shows that the efforts undertaken by the State and the project partners to support renewable fuels were worthwhile. Baden-Württemberg remains a pioneer in the transformation of the mobility sector.” Under the Strategy Dialog Program, the State Ministry of Transport supported the project with EUR 5 million. Another 15 million euros were provided by industry.

Continued Environmentally Friendly Use of Existing Vehicle Fleets

“In the foreseeable future, we will not be able to do without liquid fuels, especially in heavy-duty traffic, shipping, aviation, as well as in the existing car fleet,” says Professor Thomas Hirth, KIT Vice-President for Transfer and International Affairs. “In the “reFuels – Rethinking Fuels” project, we have now demonstrated that refuels work in both old and new cars as well as in commercial vehicles and locomotives,” Hirth adds. “To sum up, refuels are fully and entirely suited for everyday use!”

CO2 Reduction by up to 90 Percent

“We produced tons of refuels that meet standards existing for Otto and diesel fuels and do not cause any car decline or wear when widely used in various types of engines,” explains Dr. Olaf Toedter from KIT’s Institute of Internal Combustion Engines. KIT researchers produced and tested both petrol and diesel fuel. Depending on the mixing ratio of synthesized and fossil fuels, the initial materials used, and the energies, they reached a CO2 reduction by 22 to 90 percent.

Industrial Production Facility Planned in Karlsruhe

As a next step, the project partners plan to build an industrial facility to produce refuels on the premises of the MiRO refinery in Karlsruhe. “In the long run, we will replace fossil resources by renewable energy carriers,” says Dr. Andreas Krobjilowski, Technical Director of MiRO. “Many technologies and processes required for this purpose are already available in Germany. MiRO has the know-how and expertise to build and operate such new and innovative facilities.” However, affordable quantities of green hydrogen are not yet sufficient to start greenhouse gas-neutral production. For this reason, reFuel precursors, such as synthesized Fischer-Tropsch oil or methanol, are planned to be produced in countries having more wind or solar power than Germany, such as Chile or South Spain. The refuels proper - petrol, diesel, or kerosene - would then be produced by domestic refineries like MiRO. ”For the urgently needed market launch, however, we need clarity and long-term security. It must be ensured that renewable, power-based fuels can be counted for our greenhouse gas reduction rate,” Krobjilowski says.

Pure Refuels Are Within Reach

Researchers are also working on increasing the share of refuels in the fuel mixtures while complying with existing fuel standards. “In the end, pure reFuels will result,” Toedter says. Ongoing tests are promising. However, clear regulations are still lacking. At the moment, the share of admixed reFuels must not exceed 26 percent in case of Diesel in Germany.

The Project “reFuels – Rethinking Fuels”

Within the project launched in 2018, researchers studied the production and use of renewable fuels in a holistic approach. Such fuels may be used in existing combustion engines of airplanes, commercial and railway vehicles, as well as cars. Within the Strategy Dialog for the Automotive Sector in Baden-Württemberg, six institutes of KIT and several partners from energy, mineral oil, automotive, and supply industries worked on the production and introduction of reFuels. Two pilot plants and other technical facilities of KIT supplied regenerative fuels for further processing, characterization, and tests in existing combustion engines and vehicles. This way, synthesis processes for refuels and their use were optimized. Apart from CO2 emissions, also raw emissions were reduced. (mex)

Further Information:https://www.refuels.de/english/index.php

Being “The Research University in the Helmholtz Association”, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 9,800 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 22,300 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence.

This press release is available on the internet at http://www.kit.edu/kit/english/press_releases.php

A pioneering clinical trial will test psychotherapy that uses virtual reality for young people with depression

The trial, coordinated by the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) and the University of Barcelona, will be the first ever study of the efficacy of psychotherapy for depression that is complemented by a virtual reality tool

Business Announcement

UNIVERSITAT OBERTA DE CATALUNYA (UOC)

Some studies have shown alarming numbers of young people suffering from symptoms of depression. "We're talking about numbers that reach up to 60%-80% of young people, including those diagnosed with mild symptoms. And the numbers have probably increased with the pandemic," explained Adrián Montesano, a researcher and member of the Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC). "The symptoms are mild in most cases, but we know that the sooner these problems receive treatment, the less likely they are to persist in the long term or worsen," said Montesano.

A clinical trial coordinated by Montesano with the professor from the Faculty of Psychology of the UB and the Institute of Neurosciences of the UB (UBNeuro) Guillem Feixas will examine new tools to try to improve the psychological treatment these people receive. The study will examine the usefulness of personal construct therapy in young people between 18 and 29 years old with mild or moderate symptoms of depression. It will also explore whether it is more effective when implemented in conjunction with a new and pioneering virtual reality application. The trial is being funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation.

"Personal construct therapy focuses above all on how people construct their reality, and the meaning they give to things that happen to them and to the people around them", said Montesano. Its results in recent decades have been positive, but "this is the first trial which has been carried out applying it specifically to young people with depressive symptoms", he added. Its efficacy will be compared with that of cognitive behavioural therapy, which is considered the benchmark therapy, and is based primarily on observable behaviours.

Virtual reality applications have also been tried in exposure therapies to treat some types of phobias, but "this is the first time that they are being researched in the treatment of depression and in psychotherapy in general", confirmed Montesano. The app, called EYME, is a pioneering development by the University of Barcelona. The system uses a prior interview to transform the meanings and important people in the individual's identity into a 3D space in the form of spheres and words. According to Montesano, this means it is possible "to accompany the person on a journey through their mind, through their universe of meanings and personal values, fostering therapeutic conversation. The algorithms it uses are based on the work that has been done over two decades, and we believe that it may have added value among young people, for whom it can improve adherence to treatment and the appeal of psychotherapy".

One of the keys to psychological therapy is the patient's involvement. Various types of psychotherapy have presented equivalent efficacy rates in overall terms, but approximately 35% of patients drop out of treatment before it is considered complete. If the clinical trial turns out to be positive, it would help broaden the range of options available. "Being able to personalize treatment based on personal preference is crucial," said Montesano.

The trial has already begun, and the first patients are already being seen at the universities involved, as well as at health centres and hospitals associated with the project. It will involve 225 patients, and recruitment will continue until early 2023. The candidates are young people between 18 and 29 years old with mild or moderate symptoms of depression, who will be offered "free therapy sessions of high scientific quality, conducted by expert professionals, as part of the study", explained Montesano. Volunteers can sign up at the project website.

"Interventions and research in psychotherapy have traditionally focused on the most severe forms, which has partially led to young people being under-represented," acknowledged Montesano. "Today we know that the sooner the problem is addressed, the better the long-term results, so the trend needs to be reversed. This is already happening in society, and it's something that must also happen in research," he concluded.

 

 

This research supports Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, Good Health and Well-being.

 

 

UOC R&I

The UOC's research and innovation (R&I) is helping overcome pressing challenges faced by global societies in the 21st century, by studying interactions between technology and human & social sciences with a specific focus on the network society, e-learning and e-health.

The UOC's research is conducted by over 500 researchers and 51 research groups distributed between the university's seven faculties, the E-learning Research programme, and two research centres: the Internet Interdisciplinary Institute (IN3) and the eHealth Center (eHC).

The University also cultivates online learning innovations at its eLearning Innovation Center (eLinC), as well as UOC community entrepreneurship and knowledge transfer via the Hubbik platform.

The United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and open knowledge serve as strategic pillars for the UOC's teaching, research and innovation. More information: research.uoc.edu #UOC25years