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Science News Archive July 2011 - Page 19


Page 19 of 25

Study offers new clues about hereditary spastic paraplegia

A study from Rice University and Italy's Eugenio Medea Scientific Institute has shed light on the biochemical workings of atlastin, a protein linked to HSP. The research suggests that atlastin plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of long nerve cells affected by HSP.

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 8, 2011

How memory is read out in the fly brain

A team of scientists identified the MB-V2 nerve cells as crucial for recalling associative memories in fruit flies. The study showed that these cells receive information from the mushroom body and relay it to other nerve cells, enabling memory 'read-out' and guiding behavior.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateJul 8, 2011

A change of heart: Penn researchers reprogram brain cells to become heart cells

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have demonstrated direct conversion of a non-heart cell type into a heart cell by RNA transfer. This breakthrough approach, called Transcriptome Induced Phenotype Remodeling (TIPeR), offers potential for cell-based therapy for cardiovascular diseases and personalized scre...

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 8, 2011

Advances in research into Alzheimer's disease

Researchers found that vitamin D injections improved the removal of amyloid beta from the brain of mice, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for preventing Alzheimer's disease. Transporter proteins at the blood CSF barrier also play a crucial role in removing amyloid beta from the brain.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalFluids and Barriers of the CNS·DateJul 8, 2011

NSF grant supports research on origin of life

Researchers led by Virginia Tech biochemist Bob White are studying Methanocaldococcus jannaschii to understand the origin of life. They have found that this ancient organism uses a primitive metabolic process, which could help unravel the mystery of how life first emerged on Earth.

To combat deadly brain cancer, target the stem cells

Researchers have discovered an enzyme in glioblastoma stem cells that allows them to grow and seed tumors. Unlike normal stem cells, these enzymes are not shared, making them a potential target for therapy. The study found that inhibiting this pathway slows the growth of brain tumors in mice, offering hope for improved treatment options.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell·DateJul 7, 2011

MU study identifies protective factors that help women recover from childhood violence

A University of Missouri researcher found that certain protective factors foster resilience in women who witnessed domestic violence as children. Mothers who work full-time model a strong work ethic, independence, and competence, increasing their daughters' recovery from abuse. The study also identified risk factors for PTSD, including...

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalChild & Family Social Work·DateJul 7, 2011

Effects of the 2008 financial crisis on health: A first look at European data showing suicides have increased and motor vehicle deaths have decreased

The article reports that suicide rates in most European countries increased between 2007 and 2009, while road traffic fatalities decreased due to lower car use. Only Austria showed a decline in suicides, while Finland experienced an unexpected increase despite having strong social protection systems.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateJul 7, 2011

Ancestry of polar bears traced to Ireland

A team of scientists has discovered that the female ancestor of all living polar bears was a brown bear that lived in Britain and Ireland during the last ice age. This hybridization event likely occurred due to climate changes affecting the North Atlantic ice sheet, leading to periods of overlap in bear habitats.

SourcePenn State·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJul 7, 2011