Mass General Brigham study tested advanced footwear technology on elite distance runners

Researchers at Mass General Brigham have found that although advanced footwear technology (AFT), commonly known as “super shoes,” may improve performance in elite runners, they also cause subtle changes in running mechanics linked to bone stress injuries. The findings are published in PM&R, the official scientific journal of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

For the first time, scientists at University of Leeds reveal a complex mechanism behind blood clotting.

The findings, published in Science Advances, visualise a key component of blood clotting - platelet myosin – and how it is activated. 

Using the powerful cryo-EM technology imaging equipment housed in the University's Astbury Biostructure Laboratory, scientists found key regions of the myosin which are responsible for keeping it inactive. In doing so, they also revealed hotspots for inherited disease mutations, such as bleeding disorders. Mutations in this type of myosin also cause deafness and kidney disorders. 

In addition to immediate health risks, UV radiation also poses indirect hazards: it corrodes surface coatings on exposed objects (e.g., on aircraft and bridges) and attacks the coated materials. The underlying molecular processes (polymer degradation) are extremely complex. Therefore, a consortium coordinated by Fraunhofer IAF is working within the framework of the BMFTR-funded QPolyDeg project to develop novel quantum algorithms for simulating polymer degradation. Quantum chemical calculations are intended to enable more durable coatings for industrial applications.