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Cell Press


Electrical brain stimulation improves math skills

Researchers applied transcranial direct current stimulation to the parietal lobe, improving participants' ability to learn artificial numbers and processing relationships between them. The treatment had a lasting impact of up to 6 months, with potential implications for individuals with moderate to severe numerical disabilities.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateNov 4, 2010

Push and pull get eyes to work together

Researchers found a new training method to reduce sensory eye dominance by making the weak eye work while suppressing vision in the strong eye. This approach improves depth perception and may be beneficial for professions that require fine depth perception, such as dentists and surgeons.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateOct 14, 2010

Genetic alteration linked with human male infertility

Researchers discovered a genetic alteration in the NR5A1 gene that disrupts sperm production, accounting for approximately 4% of cases of unexplained male infertility. The study suggests that these mutations may indicate mild abnormalities in testicular development, highlighting the need for further clinical investigation.

SourceCell Press·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Genetics·DateSep 30, 2010

Night lights affect songbirds' mating life

Research shows that artificial night lighting impacts dawn song in forest-breeding songbirds, causing them to sing earlier and females to lay eggs a day and half earlier. This can lead to lower-quality offspring, as females may mate with lesser males.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateSep 16, 2010

Fish schools and krill swarms take on common shape

A new study reveals that fish shoals and krill swarms share a unique, irregular crystal-like shape across different locations. Researchers used multibeam sonar to record the three-dimensional structure of Antarctic krill swarms, finding a fixed surface area-to-volume ratio, similar to studies on fish from diverse locations.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateSep 16, 2010

New insight into 'accelerated aging' disease

A study published in Developmental Cell sheds light on Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome, a rare genetic disease causing premature aging. Researchers discovered that defects in the extracellular matrix and Wnt signaling pathway contribute to progeria's characteristic symptoms.

SourceCell Press·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateSep 13, 2010

Tiny ant bodyguards keep massive elephants at bay

A new study reveals that tiny ants play a crucial role in protecting acacia trees from elephants in the African savanna. The findings suggest that swarming groups of ants can deter elephants, which prefer to eat ant-plants over their favorite tree food.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateSep 2, 2010

Functional motor neuron subtypes generated from embryonic stem cells

Scientists have devised a method to coax mouse embryonic stem cells into forming highly specific motor neuron subtypes. This achievement may prove useful for future therapies for motor neuron diseases. The study provides new insight into motor neuron differentiation and demonstrates the ability to generate defined motor neuron subtypes.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateSep 2, 2010

How flies set their cruising altitude

Fruit flies establish a fixed height by tracking horizontal edges and fly at the same altitude as these features. The researchers used a virtual-reality space to track the flies' movements and confirmed that edge tracking is the primary mechanism.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateAug 19, 2010

Research links huntingtin to neurogenesis

New research reveals that abnormal huntingtin protein plays a crucial role in neurogenesis, challenging previous understanding of its function in adult neurons. The study demonstrates htt's involvement in cell division and neurogenesis, shedding light on the pathogenic mechanisms underlying Huntington's disease.

SourceCell Press·JournalNeuron·DateAug 11, 2010

Perceived intentions influence brain response

A study by Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience found that people's brains respond differently to others' actions based on their perceived intentions. When generous behavior is framed as benefiting the group, participants showed a stronger neural response, indicating a greater liking for the action.

SourceCell Press·JournalNeuron·DateAug 11, 2010

A built-in source for new heart cells

Researchers have devised a three-ingredient molecular cocktail that transforms fibroblasts into beating heart cells, potentially solving the issue of cardiac muscle regeneration in heart disease. The cocktail, tested on mice, shows promise in producing new cardiac muscle cells more efficiently than induced pluripotent stem cells.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell·DateAug 5, 2010

Chili peppers come with blood pressure benefits

A recent study found that long-term dietary consumption of capsaicin in chili peppers can reduce blood pressure in genetically hypertensive rats by activating the TRPV1 channel and increasing nitric oxide production. This could lead to potential benefits for humans with high blood pressure.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Metabolism·DateAug 3, 2010

Could diabetes be in your bones?

Two new studies reveal a key molecular link between bone remodeling and metabolism, finding that osteocalcin levels are tied to insulin resistance and glucose intolerance. Osteocalcin treatment improves symptoms in mice with diabetes-like conditions.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell·DateJul 22, 2010

The secret to sniffing out a safe supper

Scientists have discovered a key role for the GC-D necklace subsystem in mice's ability to detect safe food based on social scent. This breakthrough adds to evidence that smell is comprised of multiple parts with specialized functions, highlighting a complex communication process between animals through breathing.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJul 15, 2010

A chemical to make brain cells grow

Researchers discovered a chemical that promotes brain cell growth, potentially leading to new treatments for Alzheimer's and neurodegenerative diseases. The substance protects newborn neurons from dying off, giving them better odds of becoming functional cells.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell·DateJul 8, 2010

Study sheds light on triglyceride metabolism

A study published in Cell Metabolism identifies GPIHBP1 as the key protein responsible for transporting lipoprotein lipase (LPL) into capillaries. This discovery offers new insights into the causes of hypertriglyceridemia, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Metabolism·DateJul 7, 2010

Cholesterol's other way out

Researchers have discovered a new route for delivering cholesterol into the feces, revising understanding of cholesterol loss. This finding suggests that an alternative pathway may deliver cholesterol directly to the intestine through the bloodstream, potentially reducing side effects associated with bile-based cholesterol delivery.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Metabolism·DateJul 7, 2010

Flower power: Marking winners and losers

A new study reveals that a protein called Flower marks weaker cells for elimination, allowing fitter neighbors to dominate. This process of cell competition may provide insight into pathological conditions like cancer and aging.

SourceCell Press·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateJun 14, 2010

Getting to the root of nutrient sensing

Plants perceive nutrient availability through NRT1.1 nitrate transporter stimulation, inducing lateral root growth in nitrate-rich patches. This mechanism regulates root branching by controlling auxin accumulation, demonstrating a connection between nutrient and hormone signaling during organ development.

SourceCell Press·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateJun 14, 2010

Taking aim at metastatic lung tumors

A recent study uses genomic analysis to understand complex cellular signals driving lung cancer's deadly spread. The research identifies specific molecules linked to non-small cell lung cancer's (NSCLC) invasive and metastatic processes, providing a basis for effective therapies.

SourceCell Press·JournalCancer Cell·DateJun 14, 2010

Mutation causes intense pain

A mutation in the TRPA1 gene has been identified as the cause of familial episodic pain syndrome (FEPS), a rare inherited pain disorder. The research proposes potential treatment options using pharmacological compounds that inhibit the mutant channel.

SourceCell Press·JournalNeuron·DateJun 9, 2010

Common genetic threads link thousands of years of Jewish ancestry

Researchers have identified distinct Jewish population clusters with shared Middle Eastern ancestry and variable degrees of European and North African genetic intermingling. The study suggests that Jewishness can be identified through genetic analysis and highlights the importance of understanding the complex history of Jewish migrations.

SourceCell Press·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Genetics·DateJun 3, 2010

Combination therapy targets stubborn leukemia stem cells

Researchers discover a combination of drugs that effectively target stubborn leukemia stem cells, which often escape standard treatment and lead to disease relapse. The study supports clinical trials of HDACi in combination with tyrosine kinase inhibitors to eliminate leukemia stem cells in patients with CML.

SourceCell Press·JournalCancer Cell·DateMay 17, 2010

Your arteries may be suffering insulin resistance, too

A new report in Cell Metabolism shows that insulin-resistant blood vessels develop plaques twice as large as normal ones and are more prone to atherosclerosis. Insulin signaling helps prevent fatty plaque buildup, suggesting treatments targeting blood vessels may be beneficial for people with diabetes.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Metabolism·DateMay 4, 2010

Designer threads: New insight into protein fiber assembly

Researchers have gained new insight into protein fiber assembly, providing a potential route to temporal control of fibers with future applications in biotechnology and nanoscale science and medicine. By manipulating conditions, they were able to demonstrate the ability to manipulate fibrous structures with some precision.

SourceCell Press·JournalBiophysical Journal·DateApr 20, 2010