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Science News Archive March 2020 - Page 29


Page 29 of 41

Circulatory failure is predictable

A method combining vital signs and medical data predicts circulatory failure in ICU patients several hours in advance, enabling early intervention. The approach uses just 20 relevant variables to achieve 90% accuracy and cuts alarm systems by 90%. Further development is needed for clinical trial testing.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Medicine·DateMar 9, 2020

Show me the methane

A team of researchers from UC Santa Barbara has developed a system using hyperspectral imaging and machine learning to detect methane leaks, achieving an 87% success rate. This method can differentiate between methane and other hydrocarbons, pinpointing the location of emissions.

Is your coffee contributing to malaria risk?

A study by University of Sydney and University of São Paulo found that 20% of malaria risk in deforestation hotspots is driven by international trade of goods like coffee, timber, and palm oil. The research calls for consumers to be more mindful of their consumption and procurement, supporting sustainable land ownership in developing c...

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 9, 2020

Anticholinergic burden is associated with adverse outcomes in a middle-aged population

A study of over 500,000 middle-aged adults found that anticholinergic burden is associated with an increased risk of future adverse events such as falls, dementia, heart attacks, strokes, and deaths. The use of multiple medications with anticholinergic properties can have cumulative negative effects on the body.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateMar 9, 2020

Protecting DNA origami for anti-cancer drug delivery

Researchers develop peptoid-coated DNA origami that maintains structural integrity and functionality in different physiological environments, enabling potential use in delivering anti-cancer drugs and proteins. The method involves designing peptoids to stabilize DNA origami, with the brush-type architecture achieving optimal protection.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 9, 2020

Groovy key to nanotubes in 2D

Researchers found that the alignment of nanotubes in 2D films corresponds to parallel, submicroscopic grooves on the paper. The grooves likely form during the factory production process, and removing them allows for control over alignment direction.

SourceRice University·JournalNano Letters·DateMar 9, 2020

Head evolution in turtle ants

Researchers studied turtle ants using a species-level comparative analysis, finding that the evolution of head shape and size is reversible and decoupled within soldier and queen castes. This suggests that flexible adaptive evolution at the species level facilitates adaptive diversification of derived social lineages.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 9, 2020

Researchers map protein motion

Cornell structural biologists develop a new method to capture collective protein motion, revealing subtle breathing motions that direct biochemical function. The technique adds valuable information to regular crystallography experiments.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 9, 2020