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Science News Archive February 2012 - Page 19


Page 19 of 30

A study analyzes emotions in software engineering

A study by Universidad Carlos III de Madrid's Computer Science Department investigates emotions' importance in software engineering, focusing on requirements engineering. The researchers applied a social psychology tool, the affect grid, to discover that emotions impact requirements development and user experience.

SourceUniversidad Carlos III de Madrid·JournalJUCS - Journal of Universal Computer Science·DateFeb 13, 2012

EEG pattern reflects brain's shift into low-energy, protective mode

A mathematical model predicts and explains the emergence of burst suppression, a low-activity state in response to reduced cellular energy. The study suggests that burst suppression may be used to guide induced coma and track recovery from brain injuries, offering new insights into brain neurochemistry and neurophysiology.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 10, 2012

Protein libraries in a snap

Manan Mehta developed a method to create circularly permuted proteins, which are useful for studying molecular evolution and designing biosensors. The new technique uses transposase engineering to create diverse protein variants with great control.

SourceRice University·JournalNucleic Acids Research·DateFeb 10, 2012

A mineral way to catalysis?

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have discovered that iron pyrite, commonly known as 'Fool's Gold', has catalytic properties. The study focused on the reactions between iron pyrite and nitrogen oxides, an extremely poisonous class of compounds produced by car engines and industrial power plants.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalPhysical Chemistry Chemical Physics·DateFeb 10, 2012