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Science News Archive 2020 - Page 218


Page 218 of 512

Study reveals impact of powerful CEOs and money laundering on bank performance

A study by University of East Anglia researchers found that banks with powerful CEOs and smaller boards are more susceptible to money laundering and take greater risks. The impact of money laundering is heightened by the presence of powerful CEOs, but large and independent executive boards can partially mitigate this effect.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalInternational Journal of Finance & Economics·DateAug 4, 2020

Mount Sinai researchers discover treatment option for rare genetic disorder

Researchers at Mount Sinai Hospital have discovered a novel genetic sequencing technology that identified the cause and treatment of a previously unknown severe auto-inflammatory syndrome. The technology, tailored to the patient's own genetic code, pinpointed an unknown mutation in the JAK1 gene causing permanent immune system activation.

Developing new smart soft materials

Researchers at Ehime University have successfully synthesized a new type of polymer with a carboxy-functionalized dendron structure. The polymer demonstrates pH-responsive behavior due to the dense accumulation of side chains, paving the way for the development of new functional poly(substituted methylene)s.

SourceEhime University·JournalMacromolecules·DateAug 4, 2020

AI may offer a better way to ID drug-resistant superbugs

A machine learning algorithm using high-temporal-resolution growth curves distinguishes bacterial pathogen strains with 92-98% accuracy, predicting antibiotic resistance as well as genetic-based methods. The method has the potential to be faster, simpler, and less expensive than current techniques.

SourceDuke University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 4, 2020

Health care worker burnout during COVID-19 pandemic

A recent study evaluated burnout among healthcare workers in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic, revealing a significant prevalence of emotional exhaustion. The researchers identified several factors associated with burnout, including prolonged exposure to high-stress work environments and lack of social support.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateAug 4, 2020

A targeted treatment for emphysema?

Researchers developed a small engineered peptide called PR1P, which protects VEGF from degradation and reduces apoptosis in both cell cultures and live mice. The study found significant increases in VEGF levels and reductions in lung damage in mouse models of emphysema.

SourceBoston Children's Hospital·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology·DateAug 4, 2020

Penis microbiota predicts if a man's female partner will develop bacterial vaginosis

A study published in Frontiers found that men's penile microbiota can predict with high accuracy whether their female partner will develop bacterial vaginosis. The researchers analyzed the microbiota of 168 Kenyan couples and found a direct correlation between the composition of a man's microbiome and the occurrence of BV in his female...

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology·DateAug 4, 2020

Reducing the adverse impact of water loss in cells

A University of Houston researcher has discovered a mechanism for a protein called Nuclear Factor of Activated T cells 5 (NFAT 5) that regulates tonicity and protects cells against cell death. NFAT 5 produces protective osmolytes, which help maintain cellular integrity.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 4, 2020

New molecule reverses Alzheimer's-like memory decline

A new study published in Redox Biology shows that the drug CMS121 successfully reversed memory loss in a mouse model of inherited Alzheimer's disease. The drug works by normalizing lipid peroxidation and lowering levels of fatty acid synthetase, suggesting FASN as a potential target for treating Alzheimer's disease.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalRedox Biology·DateAug 4, 2020