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Science News Archive May 2020 - Page 30


Page 30 of 42

HKBU-led research team develops novel antiviral targeted drug for nasopharyngeal cancer

A HKBU-led research team developed a novel antiviral drug that selectively disrupts EBV protein, leading to tumour shrinkage and improved survival rates in animal models. The drug has shown promising results in targeting latent EBV infection, providing new treatment options for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

SourceHong Kong Baptist University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 11, 2020

Leap forward in the discovery and development of new antibiotics

Researchers at Monash University have made a significant breakthrough in the development of new glycopeptide antibiotics, which could provide a vital advantage in the fight against resistant bacteria. By combining natural enzymes with synthetic chemistry, scientists can now explore new antibiotics that have never been made before.

SourceMonash University·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateMay 11, 2020

Sex, genes and vulnerability

A recent study has identified the complement component 4 (C4) gene as a key factor in understanding sex biases in autoimmune disorders and schizophrenia. Individuals with more C4 genes were found to be less likely to develop autoimmune conditions but more likely to develop schizophrenia.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalNature·DateMay 11, 2020

Simple molecular reagents to treat Alzheimer's disease

Researchers developed simple molecular reagents that can simultaneously target and modulate various pathogenic factors in Alzheimer's disease. The reagents displayed redox-dependent reactivities against free radicals, metal-free and metal-bound amyloid-beta, and led to chemical modifications that altered its aggregation.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateMay 11, 2020

Experimental two-in-one shot may give diabetics a better way to control their blood sugar

Researchers at Stanford University have developed a way to combine insulin with amylin, a second hormone that plays a synergistic role in controlling blood sugar levels. The new technique involves a protective coating that allows the two hormones to coexist in a single shot, enabling patients to take a double-acting injection.

SourceStanford University School of Engineering·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·DateMay 11, 2020

Street smarts required in heat mitigation

Researchers measured pedestrian heat exposure over regular asphalt roads, reflective coated roads and sidewalks next to the roads. The study found that the surface temperature of coated asphalt road was up to 6 degrees Celsius cooler than the regular road in the afternoon, but the radiant heat over coated asphalt was higher.

SourceArizona State University·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateMay 11, 2020

Breaking down wood decomposition by fungi

Researchers develop a trait-based understanding of fungal decomposition abilities, improving predictive power for early and mid-stage wood decay. The study identifies different fungal traits that explain wood decomposition variation, with great potential to improve carbon cycle predictions in forests.

SourceGeorge Washington University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 11, 2020

New test identifies lobster hybrids

Researchers have developed a test to identify lobster hybrids resulting from crossbreeding between European and American lobsters, posing a potential threat to conservation efforts. The study highlights the importance of genetics in distinguishing hybrid lobsters that may spread unwanted genes across native populations.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalScientific Reports·DateMay 11, 2020

Insulin resistance contributes to racial disparities in breast cancer prognosis in US women, Mount Sinai researchers reveal

A new study by Mount Sinai researchers found that insulin resistance is a key factor mediating racial disparities in breast cancer prognosis. Black women with invasive breast cancer had higher rates of insulin resistance and more aggressive tumors than white women.

Eurovision voting points to more than just musical tastes

New research from the University of Stirling and University of Glasgow reveals that Eurovision voting patterns can indicate the likelihood and nature of business exchanges across borders. The study found correlations between voting bias and levels of foreign direct investment, migration movements, and cross-border mergers.

SourceUniversity of Stirling·JournalJournal of International Business Studies·DateMay 11, 2020

Photosynthesis in a droplet

A Max Planck research team led by Tobias Erb developed an artificial chloroplast platform capable of capturing and converting greenhouse gas carbon dioxide with light. The system, created using synthetic biology and microfluidics, outperforms previous synthetic-biological approaches in binding rates for carbon dioxide.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalScience·DateMay 11, 2020

Solve invasive seaweed problem by turning it into biofuels and fertilisers

Researchers have developed a cheap and simple way to create biofuel and fertiliser from seaweed, removing plastic from the oceans and cleaning up tourist beaches in the Caribbean and Central America. The process uses acidic and basic catalysts to release sugars that can be used to feed a yeast that produces a palm oil substitute.

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalJournal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology·DateMay 11, 2020

Grocery depot brings increased traffic to South Bronx

A new study led by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that the opening of a FreshDirect warehouse in Mott Haven, Bronx, increased truck and vehicle flow, leading to small increases in air and noise pollution. The researchers estimated increases of 0.06 dBA (noise) and 0.003 µg/m3 (black carbon air pollution).

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·DateMay 11, 2020

Healthy eating behaviors in childhood may reduce the risk of adult obesity and heart disease

A new scientific statement from the American Heart Association suggests that healthy eating habits in childhood can reduce the risk of adult obesity and heart disease. Allowing children to choose their food options within a healthy environment encourages positive eating behaviors and weight management. Parents and caregivers should foc...

SourceAmerican Heart Association·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·DateMay 11, 2020