A new study has yielded clues about when dormant microscopic bacteria and fungi in soil "wake up" and colonize roots, which influences plant growth and health.

The Stream Ecology group of the University of the Basque Country (EHU) has tested various ways of measuring river quality in three streams in the Green Belt area of Vitoria-Gasteiz. Using these trials as the basis, the team designed a protocol with early warning indicators that allows environmental managers and agencies to assess the health of river environments more accurately.

The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology has launched a new clinical trial seeking to evaluate the feasibility of delivering a structured exercise program entirely through telehealth for patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy with the ultimate goal of reducing fatigue and disability. The DEFEND (distance-based exercise to preserve function and prevent disability), trial (Alliance A222302) aims to enroll participants between the ages of 18 and 65 who are receiving chemotherapy with curative intent. The study will assess whether virtual exercise sessions, consisting of supervised resistance and aerobic exercise training, can successfully be delivered to patients during treatment. The study will also explore whether the exercise program can help patients maintain physical function, reduce fatigue and prevent disability during treatment, providing critical data to inform the design of a subsequent phase III trial powered to evaluate the impact of exercise on these outcomes.