Articles
Writefull – Advanced academic language feedback
Writefull provides advanced academic and technical writing software that goes well beyond the tools provided by other grammar checkers. Using highly complex algorithms, it offers a full array of language feedback – covering everything from wording, syntax, and grammar – catered specifically to the academic community. Research Outreach caught up with Dr Hilde van Zeeland, Applied Linguist at Writefull, to […]
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The 20-year-old mysteries of nu Octantis: Its almost unbelievable planet – or what?
When observing the light emitted by nearby stars as part of his PhD at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, Dr David Ramm made a discovery that turned astronomers’ understanding of orbital mechanics on its head. With an orbit lying roughly halfway between two very close stars in a binary system, the nu Octantis exoplanet seemed at first glance impossible. […]
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Cinematic cruising: Reel and real spaces between imagination and experience
What do going on a cruise and visiting the cinema have in common? Professor Anton Escher, Dr Marie Karner and Helena Rapp, at Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, believe these two seemingly different activities share a lot in common. Delving into an area of study they feel has been overlooked until now, they explain how film representations affect a cruise passenger’s […]
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Long-term outcomes in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
Due to the degeneration of the knee joint in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), walking becomes difficult. Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) can restore the ability to walk. Several reports have been published highlighting the survival rate of TKA in RA patients, however, no study has focused on the prospect of outdoor walking. Dr Fumiharu Yamashita and his team from the […]
A sustainability assessment system for bridge engineering
Dr Tai-Yi Liu, Chief and Professional Engineer with the New Asia Construction and Development Corporation, together with colleagues from the National Taiwan University, has developed a tool for assessing sustainability for green civil infrastructures. This innovative Sustainability Assessment System for Green Civil Infrastructure provides a functional and reliable tool to help engineers develop more ecologically and environmentally friendly civil infrastructures. […]
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Detecting microplastics on aquatic vegetation in the Great Lakes
It is well known that natural surface waters have become contaminated with microplastics. However, it is not yet understood how these pollutants impact aquatic organisms. Professor Julie Peller at Valparaiso University, Indiana, has investigated the distribution of microplastics in the North American Great Lakes and found that synthetic microfibres are, on average, a thousand times more abundant on aquatic vegetation […]
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Harnessing the health benefits of plants
Plant-derived medicines have been used by humans for thousands of years. Currently, there is much focus on phytocannabinoids, usually extracted from cannabis plants. However, these health-benefitting compounds can also be found in other plants. Dr Bianke Loedolff, Dr Shaun Peters, Ethan Hunter, Alukhanyo Xonti and Vincent Malizukiswe Vacu at Stellenbosch University are investigating the role of plants in developing new […]
Corporate sustainability: Benefits and drawbacks in the implementation of green business initiatives
As the public becomes increasingly cognisant of its effect on the environment, companies are progressively looking for green initiatives to implement and improve their corporate sustainability strategies. Dr Roberto Sarmiento at the Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí, and his team, examined potential trade-offs that could occur during the implementation of a green initiative at an SME in Mexico. The […]
The effects of climatic trends on agriculture in Western Uzbekistan
Temperature plays a vital role in plant development. Extreme hot and cold temperatures can perturb and even stop plant growth, dramatically affecting crop yields. Independent researcher Julian Schlubach looks at climate trends in an agro-region in Western Uzbekistan. He analysed local meteorological data and IPCC future climate projections to determine how the primary crops there have been and will be […]
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Establishing a new care pathway for deep vein thrombosis
Dr Tony Wan of St Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver identified a gap in the treatment pathway of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), causing repeat visits to the emergency department (ED) and putting pressure on a department that is already prone to overcrowding. The new care pathway saw the expansion of St Paul’s Hospital Thrombosis Clinic, where patients are referred directly after […]
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