A new study published in Earth’s Future introduces the eLTER Framework of Standard Observations (eLTER SO) - a structured, harmonized system designed to support consistent long-term environmental observation across Europe. The paper, "Achieving harmonized and integrated long-term environmental observation of essential ecosystem variables - The eLTER Framework of Standard Observations", explains how the eLTER Research Infrastructure (eLTER RI) is improving the comparability and coordination of environmental data across diverse ecosystems and research fields. By providing common standards, the framework improves data interoperability and supports collaboration across the environmental research community. It offers a foundation for future work in areas such as ecosystem modeling, sustainability assessments, and evidence-based environmental policy.

New findings of an Alliance Foundation Trials study show combining immunotherapy and chemotherapy before surgery improves outcomes for some patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer, according to the results of AFT-46/CHIO3 published in Lung Cancer.

A new study from Penn Nursing’s Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research (CHOPR) published in Nursing Outlook finds that nurses’ assessments of their staffing adequacy is a more accurate predictor of patient safety on medical surgical units than traditional administrative data. The research, which analyzed data from over 1,200 nursing units across the United States, highlights a critical distinction in how staffing should be measured and managed across different hospital settings.

Did you know that cancers in the head and neck area, including the mouth, throat, nasal cavity and voice box, account for about 4% of all new cancers diagnosed in U.S. each year? Major risk factors include smoking cigarettes as well as the use of smokeless tobacco (chewing tobacco and vaping) and alcohol. People with the human papilloma virus (HPV) are also at higher risk of developing head and neck cancer. Symptoms of the disease include a lump or sore in the mouth that doesn’t go away, difficulty swallowing and swelling of the chin or around the jawbone. Although there is no standard screening for head and neck cancers, dentists usually check the mouth for signs of cancer during routine appointments. The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology and the Alliance Foundation Trials have several active trials specifically poised to help people with head and neck cancers.