Pretreatment Methods Bring Second-gen Biofuels from Oilcane Closer to Commercialization

In collaboration with other Bioenergy Research Centers (BRCs), researchers at the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) are developing industrially feasible techniques for second-generation biofuel production from oilcane, an oil-rich variety of sugarcane, to help meet our growing societal demand for fuels.

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Amid cuts, Illinois SNAP-Ed study reveals powerful partnerships supporting healthy communities

A critical program supporting healthy communities in Illinois and across the country took a devastating hit on July 4 when HR1, the federal budget reconciliation bill, was passed and signed into law.

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Illinois analysis aims to ease GI symptoms for cancer patients

Many modern cancer treatments are highly effective at reducing or eliminating tumors, but they can also cause severe gastrointestinal symptoms that impact patients’ quality of life or lead to discontinuation of treatment.

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Study explores how teacher training and reading programs affect literacy in Mozambique

Literacy rates in Sub-Saharan Africa remain low, despite increased primary school enrollment. In rural Mozambique, only 3% of children possess grade-level reading skills. Poor learning outcomes in lower grades are a barrier to further expanding school enrollment at higher grade levels.

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Kidney fibrosis linked to molecule made by gut bacteria

A molecule made by bacteria in the gut can hitch a ride to the kidneys, where it sets off a chain reaction of inflammation, scarring and fibrosis — a serious complication of diabetes and a leading cause of kidney failure — according to a new study from researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Mie University in Japan.

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Bioreactors reduce phosphorus from agricultural drainage water, Illinois study shows

Tile drainage is a common practice used in agricultural fields to remove excess water, but it also transports harmful nutrients into water bodies, contributing to algal blooms that deprive aquatic life of oxygen. Woodchip bioreactors are an efficient way to reduce nitrogen pollution by treating the water as it exits the field. However, these denitrifying bioreactors may leach phosphorus from the woodchips into the environment.

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Mouse study reveals gut microbe balance may be key factor in early-onset colorectal cancer

With colorectal cancer on the rise in people under 50, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are looking at the colon’s tiniest inhabitants to reveal causes and potential treatments.

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How the COVID-19 pandemic affected parents and youth: Thorns and silver linings

The COVID-19 pandemic upended life for individuals and communities worldwide. Social isolation, health mandates, illness, and economic hardships took a toll on the well-being of families and children, but there were also silver linings to people’s experiences.

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Consumers prefer self-checkout when buying stigmatized products, study shows

Self-checkout registers have become ubiquitous in grocery stores as they provide convenience and efficiency for customers. They also offer more privacy with no human directly monitoring your purchases.

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