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Science News Archive September 2011 - Page 28


Page 28 of 29

An 'unconventional' path to correcting cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is caused by a mutated gene affecting ion transport across cell membranes. Researchers have discovered an unexpected way to send mutant proteins to the surface to restore ion transport. Higher levels of GRASP65 escort mutant CFTR channels to the cell surface, dramatically extending the lives of mice with cystic fibrosis.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell·DateSep 1, 2011

Sex hormones impact career choices

Research suggests that sex hormones play a significant role in shaping women's career interests. Females with congenital adrenal hyperplasia exhibit more interest in STEM careers due to increased androgen exposure, while those without the condition prefer people-oriented jobs.

SourcePenn State·JournalHormones and Behavior·DateSep 1, 2011

Digital quantum simulator realized

Researchers at the University of Innsbruck have successfully created a digital quantum simulator that can simulate any physical system efficiently. The simulator uses trapped ions to manipulate and encode states, allowing for the study of phenomena such as Zitterbewegung, which had never been observed directly in nature before.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalScience·DateSep 1, 2011

JCI online early table of contents: Sept. 1, 2011

Researchers identify key protein ABCCC1 in clearing Alzheimer's beta-amyloid from the brain. A mutation in PSMB8 gene causes Japanese autoinflammatory syndrome with lipodystrophy. Signaling via TACI is crucial for long-lived antibody-secreting cells in a mouse model of flu infection.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateSep 1, 2011

Modelling melanocyte differentiation in zebrafish

The study combines genetic data with mathematical modelling to provide insights into cell differentiation. The findings demonstrate the utility of a systems biology approach, which could have implications for understanding and treating diseases such as cancers caused by abnormal cell function.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateSep 1, 2011

Faster diagnostics through cheap, ultra-portable blood testing

A new sensor technology has been developed to detect specific proteins in human blood, promising faster and more affordable diagnostics for diseases such as cancer and diabetes. The sensor uses aptamers, custom-made molecules that can latch onto target compounds with high specificity and accuracy.

SourceOptica·JournalBiomedical Optics Express·DateSep 1, 2011

Lung cancer ALK rearrangement may predict pemetrexed efficacy, study shows

A study found that ALK-rearranged non-small cell lung cancer patients responded significantly better to pemetrexed than those without the genetic mutation. Researchers discovered that ALK positivity was an independent predictor for pemetrexed efficacy, with improved tumor response rates and longer time to progression.

SourceInternational Association for the Study of Lung Cancer·JournalJournal of Thoracic Oncology·DateSep 1, 2011

Language speed vs. efficiency: Is faster better?

A recent study finds that languages vary in speed but not in efficiency, with some languages packing more information into each syllable than others. The research, published in Language journal, explores linguistic strategies for efficient communication and reveals a strong relationship between syllable complexity and speech rate.

SourceLinguistic Society of America·JournalLanguage·DateSep 1, 2011

From a flat mirror, designer light

Researchers at Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have induced light rays to behave in a way that defies the centuries-old laws of reflection and refraction. The discovery allows for beams of light that reflect and refract in arbitrary ways, depending on the surface pattern.

SourceHarvard University·JournalScience·DateSep 1, 2011

2 brain halves, 1 perception

Research reveals that specific fibre tracts in the corpus callosum are linked to individual differences in perceived visual motion. The connection affects how people perceive horizontal and vertical motion, with some individuals better at integrating information from both hemispheres.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalCurrent Biology·DateSep 1, 2011