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Science News Archive August 2019 - Page 15


Page 15 of 38

Discharge incentives in emergency rooms could lead to higher patient readmission rates

A new study from UBC Sauder School of Business shows that pay-for-performance incentive programs in emergency departments can increase return visits and readmissions. The research focused on patients discharged within 20 minutes of the deadline for incentives and found a significant discontinuity around the four-hour mark.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia - Sauder School of Business·JournalAcademic Emergency Medicine·DateAug 20, 2019

Ammonia for fuel cells

Researchers at the University of Delaware have made significant progress in developing a cost-effective fuel cell technology utilizing ammonia, a nitrogen-based liquid fuel. Ammonia has been identified as the lowest-cost fuel produced from renewable energy, with potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and improve efficiency.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalJoule·DateAug 20, 2019

Climate is changing faster than animal adaptation

An international team of scientists analyzed over 10,000 climate change studies and found that birds and other animals cannot adapt quickly enough to keep pace with climate change. This mismatch between the timing of biological events and the availability of food resources poses a significant threat to species survival.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 20, 2019

What's at the 'heart' of a heartbeat?

Atrial fibrillation is a major concern due to its association with serious complications like heart failure and stroke. Researchers have identified a new piece of the puzzle that has changed the field's understanding of the molecular mechanisms leading to atrial fibrillation, involving a phosphatase regulatory subunit known as PPP1R3A.

SourceBaylor College of Medicine·JournalCirculation·DateAug 20, 2019

More children suffer head injuries playing recreational sport than team sport

A study of 8,857 children found that recreational sports led to more serious head injuries than contact sports, with bike riding and skateboarding causing the most frequent serious injuries. The research highlights the need for greater awareness and safety measures in recreational sports to prevent head injuries in children.

SourceMurdoch Childrens Research Institute·JournalThe Medical Journal of Australia·DateAug 20, 2019

Wave climate projections predict risks to Aussie coastlines

Researchers mapped out how much waves are likely to change around the globe under climate change, finding that limiting warming to 2 degrees would keep signals of wave climate change within natural variability. However, 48% of the world's coast is at risk if we don't limit warming, with changes in wave height, period, or direction.

SourceGriffith University·JournalNature Climate Change·DateAug 20, 2019

Scientists find precise control of terminal division during plant stomatal development

Researchers have identified a genetic suppressor of flp stomatal defects, which acts downstream from core cell cycle genes to ensure terminal division during stomatal development. The study found that CDK-mediated phosphorylation at the N-terminus of RPA2a is essential for RPA functioning and localization.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 20, 2019

Studying organ crosstalk leads to a deeper understanding of sepsis

Researchers investigated metabolic changes across organs in a large animal model of sepsis, identifying common and organ-specific alterations that could inform new therapeutic approaches. The study, published in The American Journal of Pathology, has the potential to reduce mortality and morbidity associated with sepsis.

SourceElsevier·JournalAmerican Journal Of Pathology·DateAug 20, 2019

Brain takes a beating as arteries age

As humans age, their brains receive increased load from the heart's beating due to stiffening large arteries, causing damage to smallest blood vessels. The hippocampus, crucial for episodic memory, is particularly vulnerable to this increased stress.

SourceUmea University·JournalTrends in Cognitive Sciences·DateAug 20, 2019

Enabling longer space missions

Researchers used computer modeling and laboratory tests to investigate how changing gas flow rates and magnetic field sizes affect Hall thruster performance. They found that maintaining optimal ionization and acceleration regions can prolong the life of these systems, making them suitable for even longer space missions.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateAug 20, 2019

Helping skin cells differentiate could be key to treating common skin cancer

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have identified LSD1 as a key regulator of skin cell turnover and found that blocking it could be an effective treatment method for non-melanoma skin cancers. The study shows that targeting LSD1 can force skin cells to differentiate, potentially turning tumor cells into healthier cells.

A new path to cancer therapy: developing simultaneous multiplexed gene editing technology

Researchers developed a new gene editing system that simultaneously suppresses proteins inhibiting the immune system in lymphoma cells and activates cytotoxic T lymphocytes. The technology, based on improved CRISPR gene editing, shows promise for treating various diseases including cancer, autoimmune, and inflammatory conditions.

Poo transplants to help save koalas

Researchers found that faecal inoculations changed the koalas' microbiomes, allowing them to eat messmate. This could affect all aspects of their ecology, including nutrition and habitat selection. The study provides a proof of concept for using encapsulated faecal material to introduce new microbes in koalas' guts.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalAnimal Microbiome·DateAug 20, 2019