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Science News Archive June 2020 - Page 19


Page 19 of 48

Fish fossils become buried treasure

Researchers discovered that ancient fish fossils near Japan hold valuable rare-earth elements, indicating potential new global supply sources. The findings suggest that fish populations were drawn to specific locations due to climate change and underwater geology, resulting in concentrated deposits of these metals.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalScientific Reports·DateJun 18, 2020

Exploring mass dependence in electron-hole clusters

Research by Alexei Frolov finds distinct relationships between particle masses and cluster properties, improving understanding of semiconductors' optical spectra. The study's formulas could be adapted to describe clusters with varying masses, enabling finer tuning of semiconductor properties.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateJun 18, 2020

Homeless patients are more likely to be readmitted to a hospital within 30 days

A new study found that homeless patients are more likely to be readmitted to the hospital within 30 days due to chronic diseases and limited access to medical care. The study, conducted across three states, revealed a 17% combined 30-day readmission rate among homeless patients compared to 14% among housed individuals.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·DateJun 18, 2020

COVID-19 news from Annals of Internal Medicine

The American College of Physicians (ACP) has issued new Practice Points on the effectiveness of masks for preventing COVID-19 disease. The guidelines emphasize the importance of N95 respirators in healthcare settings and recommend surgical masks for non-medical individuals to reduce transmission risk. ACP also emphasizes the need for c...

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateJun 18, 2020

Nanomaterial gives robots chameleon skin

Researchers at UC Riverside developed a new film made of gold nanoparticles that can respond to any type of movement, enabling robots to mimic chameleons. The material's complex patterns can be displayed through programming, opening up various applications such as underwater exploration and authentication features.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 17, 2020

Combination biomarker predicts response to immune checkpoint therapy in patients with advanced bladder cancer

Researchers discovered a novel combination of biomarkers from baseline tumor tissues that predict improved clinical responses and prolonged survival in patients with advanced bladder cancer. ARID1A mutations and CXCL13 expression were associated with better overall survival, suggesting potential patient selection improvements.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJun 17, 2020

Without intervention, a 70% reduction in strokes or death in patients with brain AVMs

A recent clinical trial published in The Lancet Neurology found that patients with brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) can experience a significant reduction in stroke risk and mortality when left alone to follow their natural course. In contrast, standard medical interventions may pose more harm than benefit.

Quantum diamond sensing

Researchers developed a new quantum sensing technique that allows high-resolution NMR spectroscopy on small molecules in dilute solution, achieving femtomole molecular sensitivity. This breakthrough enables chemical analysis and magnetic resonance imaging at the level of individual biological cells.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalPhysical Review X·DateJun 17, 2020

Envy divides society

A game theoretical study by Claudius Gros shows that envy can lead to the emergence of social classes in a society. The study simulates individual behaviour in a competitive environment, where agents with different skills and opportunities interact.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·DateJun 17, 2020

Virtual demolition

Researchers at Osaka University have developed a system that can virtually remove buildings, trees, or moving objects from real-time landscape simulations using deep learning and video game graphics engines. This technology may become standard for urban planning in busy areas with many distractions present, allowing for the visualizati...

SourceOsaka University·JournalEnvironmental Modelling & Software·DateJun 17, 2020

An excessive amount of propionic acid (PPA) in food preservatives may hinder brain development

A recent study published in Molecular Brain suggests that an imbalance of human gut microorganisms and excessive propionic acid consumption may contribute to autism. The researchers found that propionic acid disrupts autophagy, a natural cell mechanism, leading to reduced dendritic spine formation and hindering child brain development.

SourceKorea Brain Research Institute·JournalMolecular Brain·DateJun 17, 2020

Patient-personalized sequencing pipeline steps up sensitivity of tumor DNA monitoring

A patient-personalized sequencing pipeline, INVAR, enhances the sensitivity of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detection in plasma samples. This technique analyzes hundreds of patient-specific mutations to detect ctDNA, enabling more accurate monitoring and potentially early relapse spotting.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJun 17, 2020