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Science News Archive August 2020 - Page 19


Page 19 of 45

Heating our climate damages our economies - study reveals greater costs than expected

A new study reveals that climate change can cause greater damages to economies than previously thought, with up to three times the estimated output losses of a 1°C hotter year. The research found significant economic losses of 10% globally and over 20% in tropical regions by 2100.

SourcePotsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)·JournalJournal of Environmental Economics and Management·DateAug 19, 2020

Telemedicine may well outlast the pandemic, say mental health care staff

New research from UCL and King's College London finds that telemedicine may not work for everyone, with major challenges to be addressed for its effective adoption. Mental health staff report concerns about reduced referrals, visits to services, and access to physical healthcare for people with mental health conditions.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalSocial Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology·DateAug 19, 2020

Older adults with existing depression show resilience during the pandemic

A study found that older adults with pre-existing major depressive disorder demonstrated resilience to the stress of physical distancing and isolation during the pandemic. They used coping strategies such as maintaining regular schedules, distracting themselves from negative emotions, and using mindfulness.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalAmerican Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry·DateAug 19, 2020

A Reverse Approach to Vessel Surgery May Boost Clinical Outcomes in Dialysis

A new surgical procedure called RADAR has been shown to create arteriovenous fistulae that mature more quickly, remain accessible longer, and are less likely to require reintervention. The study suggests this approach may improve clinical outcomes for patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateAug 19, 2020

Researchers identify better classification system for adult idiopathic scoliosis

Researchers have designed a new X-ray classification system for adult idiopathic scoliosis, providing a more universal and standard assessment of the condition. The three-component method maintains existing curve types while introducing assessments of global alignment and lumbosacral curve, improving treatment options for older patients.

Toward a coronavirus breathalyzer test

A prototype device has been developed to detect COVID-19 in exhaled breath, reducing the need for uncomfortable nasopharyngeal swabs. The sensor shows high accuracy in distinguishing COVID-19 cases from controls and lung infections, with potential applications for screening large populations.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Nano·DateAug 19, 2020

Medicaid expansion and outpatient surgical care

This observational study found that states participating in Medicaid expansion had higher rates of using common outpatient surgical procedures, including cataract surgery and hernia repair. The study suggests that increased access to healthcare may lead to more medical interventions.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Surgery·DateAug 19, 2020

Food from the sea

Sustainably managing the ocean could increase food production by an outsize proportion relative to land-based food, nourishing the growing human population. Researchers estimate a roughly 16% increase in wild-caught seafood by 2050 if fisheries are sustainably managed.

Portrait of a virus

A new platform analyzing medical records of COVID-19 patients has provided intriguing clinical clues about the disease's presentation, evolution, and impact on different organ systems. The data from 96 hospitals in five countries has raised more questions than answers, but holds promise for rapid disease insights.

SourceHarvard Medical School·Journalnpj Digital Medicine·DateAug 19, 2020

Lungfish fins reveal how limbs evolved

A team of biologists has determined how limbs evolved from fins using embryos of the Australian lungfish. The study suggests that a primitive hand was present in lungfish fins but unique anatomy of limbs with digits only evolved during the rise of tetrapods through changes in embryonic development.

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalScience Advances·DateAug 19, 2020