news 2023

Since its introduction in 2015, a prediction tool developed by the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) has been providing support worldwide in the assessment of the clinical benefits of new cancer therapies. However, previously available versions proved unsuitable for use with malignant diseases of the blood, such as different types of leukaemias or lymphomas.

The amount of electric lighting at night has been increasing at a rate of almost ten percent annually over the past ten years. And this primarily has an impact on the 4.4 billion people across the world who live in cities. Excessive exposure to light at night not only has the potential to trigger sleep disorders, but has also been found to increase the risk of disease such as obesity, depression, diabetes and cancer.

Scientists from the Universities of Salzburg, Torun (Poland) and Potsdam and the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research demonstrate in their recent study that butterflies in the province of Salzburg are sensitive to climate change and intensified agriculture. The studies appeared in the journal Science of the Total Environment.

Lubricants that reduce friction are created precisely where friction is high: At TU Wien, this was achieved with special 2D materials. This is important for space technology . Our bodies have a few things in common with machines: we have moving joints, friction and wear occur, so you need suitable lubricants.

Single-atom vacancies in atomically thin insulators created in ultra-high vacuum Single photons have applications in quantum computation, information networks, and sensors, and these can be emitted by defects in the atomically thin insulator hexagonal boron nitride (hBN). Missing nitrogen atoms have been suggested to be the atomic structure responsible for this activity, but it is difficult to controllably remove them.

Distribution in the Mesozoic from present-day Antarctica to Greenland Paleobotanist Mario Coiro of the Institute of Paleontology at the University of Vienna and colleagues at the University of Montpellier (France) have made an important breakthrough in understanding the origin and geographic distribution of cycads.

A new international study involving the Kepler University Hospital for Neurology in Linz has provided important insights into the optimal timing for starting blood-thinning therapy after stroke in patients* with atrial fibrillation. The results of this ELAN study (Early versus late initiation of direct oral anticoagulants in post-ischemic stroke patients with atrial fibrillation) were published in the renowned journal "New England Journal of Medicine".

Temporarily lowering the body temperature is considered a way to prevent or limit brain damage after resuscitation in the event of cardiac arrest. Researchers at MedUni Vienna's Department of Emergency Medicine have now analysed the results of several studies in a Cochrane Review and shown to what extent cooling methods can reduce the risk of brain damage and improve neurological outcomes after successful resuscitation.

A research team led by the Medical University of Vienna and the Complexity Science Hub Vienna has analysed the actual prevalence of Type 2 diabetes in Austria for the first time as part of a study. In addition to identifying clear regional differences, an alarming and previously unknown figure came to light: one in three people suddenly stop treatment and go without medication and/or medical check-ups for at least a year.

Mycoplankton plays an active role in the degradation of organic matter and the cycling of nutrients Fungi play a vital and previously neglected role in the complex tapestry of marine ecosystems, a study by Eva Breyer and Federico Baltar of the University of Vienna reveals. The results have now been published in the journal Trends in Ecology & Evolution.

At TU Wien (Vienna, scientists use microscopy techniques to observe chemical reactions on catalysts more precisely than before yielding a wealth of detail. This made clear why some effects cannot be predicted. Catalysts composed from tiny metal particles play an important role in many areas of technology - from fuel cells to production of synthetic fuels for energy storage.

Primate genomes analyzed by AI for clinical relevance of individual gene variants. New genome data from a large number of different monkey species generated by an international research team are providing new insights into the genetic causes of human diseases. With development of a deep-learning-based algorithm, they could serve as a basis for personalized medical treatment concepts in humans in the future.

How does competition influence moral behavior? Studies have so far found evidence for both a negative and a positive influence of competition on moral behavior. Researchers from Innsbruck, Vienna, Stockholm, and Amsterdam are using this unanswered question to conduct a meta-study that examines the extent to which different study designs can account for variability in scientific outcomes.

How does competition influence moral behaviour? Studies have so far found evidence for both a negative and a positive influence of competition on moral behaviour. Researchers from Innsbruck, Vienna, Stockholm and Amsterdam are using this unanswered question in a meta-study to investigate the extent to which different study designs can be responsible for variability in scientific results.

At the Vienna University of Technology, a breakthrough was achieved in the production of important enzymes: Previously, they were extracted from horseradish roots (horseradish), but now a precise, clean, synthetic production was achieved in the laboratory . It is one of the most important enzymes in medical diagnostics: The so-called - Horseradish Peroxidase- (Horseradish Peroxidase) is used for many medical devices - often it is used when a color change of a test strip is to detect the presence of antibodies or other proteins.

People suffering from obesity are at a significantly greater risk of also developing mental disorders. This applies to all age groups, whereby women are more at risk than men for most diseases, as a recent study by the Medical University of Vienna and the Complexity Science Hub Vienna shows. The results were published in the specialist journal "Translational Psychiatry".

By Birgit Baustädter Jurij Koruza and his team are working on electroceramics that are used in electronic devices. The team is part of a new and highly endowed collaborative research centre led by TU Darmstadt. Electroceramics are at the core of many electronic components. A mobile phone, for example, contains about 500 capacitors consisting of several layers of ceramic and metal.

By Falko Schoklitsch Using a newly developed method for the efficient and cost-effective production of biocompatible microfibres, the production of autologous skin and organs can be significantly accelerated. In biomedical technology, tissue engineering for the ex-vivo production of skin or organs is becoming increasingly important.

15-country study confirms that people living near or visiting the seaside enjoy better health Seaside residents and holidaymakers have felt it for centuries, but scientists have only recently started to investigate possible health benefits of the coast.

A recent study at JKU sheds light on the development of aortic aneurysm, a pathological dilatation of the aorta. Aortic aneurysm, a pathological enlargement of the aorta that can lead to a tear or rupture of the aorta with life-threatening consequences. Since the disease often occurs without symptoms, it is often diagnosed only at an advanced stage, which usually necessitates surgical intervention.