Researchers discovered that the Nrf2 protein plays a crucial role in protecting cells from oxidative stress, which is often exploited by cancer cells to become resistant to treatment. By selectively inhibiting Nrf2, cancer cells may become more susceptible to chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Researchers at USC and international partners successfully built a quantum computer inside a diamond, showcasing solid-state computing's potential. The device protects against decoherence, a major obstacle to quantum systems, by utilizing microwave pulses to stabilize electron spin rotation.
A recent US study found that higher out-of-pocket costs for children's medication are associated with reduced medication use and increased hospitalizations. The study, which analyzed data from over 8,000 patients, suggests that parents may be less sensitive to cost when making decisions for their younger children.
Researchers found protons can move efficiently in stacked systems of molecules, common in plant biomass, membranes, DNA, and elsewhere. This discovery could lead to better catalysts, fuels, and drugs.
Researchers found that faces are recognized more by their features than the entire face, contradicting the long-held belief in holistic processing. This study may help understand rare facial recognition disorders.
Researchers will use hydrodynamic computer modeling to evaluate tsunami currents and their effects on ports and harbors in California. The study aims to create hazard maps and determine safe evacuation depths to mitigate damage caused by these late-arriving surges.
A new study by USC researchers reveals that creativity requires both hemispheres of the brain, with the left hemisphere playing a crucial supporting role. The study found that visual creative tasks lit up the left hemisphere more than non-creative tasks, indicating its potential importance in creative thinking.
Researchers at USC have discovered an abnormal amount of Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGF-β) outside cells, which may indicate Loeys-Dietz syndrome. This finding could enable rapid diagnosis and treatment of the life-threatening birth defect.
A new study found that short fasting cycles can work as well as chemotherapy to treat cancer in mice, and combining both greatly improves survival rates. Fasting alone also effectively treated a majority of cancers tested in animals, including those from human cells.
Scientists have found microbial succession in microbes on deep-sea hydrothermal vents, where life adapts to replace extinct communities with iron and sulfur-rich environments. Researchers at USC uncovered evidence of ecological succession on dormant vents, replacing heat-dependent microbes with new species.
A multi-national team, including USC scientists, found that indoor pollution has been drastically reduced at the church housing the famous painting by 88 and 94 percent. However, fatty lipids from visitors' skin still pose a threat of soiling on the Last Supper, despite strict visitor access regulations.
A new study reveals that the recipient's immune system, specifically T-cells, alternately discourages and encourages stem cells to regrow bone and tissue. Administering regulatory T-cells or anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin increases the rate of bone growth and defect repair.
Researchers at USC's Keck School of Medicine discovered how estrogen activates genes in breast-cancer cells through a protein called TIP60, which recognizes methylation signals in chromatin. This finding builds upon previous work and has broader implications for gene regulation and potentially global significance.
Researchers confirm cytomegalovirus as a cause of common salivary gland cancers, with implications for human health. The study suggests CMV's role in cancer development and potential new prevention and treatment methods.
Researchers have identified two peptides that target an enzyme in cancerous cells, leading to a rise in tumor suppressor protein p53 levels and cell death. The discovery shows promise for new cancer treatments.
USC Associate Professor Ellis Meng is selected for the NSF's Innovation Corps award to develop and commercialize her tiny, implantable medication-delivery system. The system has a better volume efficiency, allowing it to be powered wirelessly and used in animal studies.
A USC study finds that black middle school students whose close friends drink alcohol are more likely to drink themselves, with a significant risk factor identified for future alcohol use. Researchers suggest special prevention programs may benefit this group.
A team of international researchers, led by computer scientist Kevin Knight, has finally broken the 75,000-character Copiale Cipher after centuries. The decoded message reveals rituals and political leanings of an 18th-century German secret society, shedding new light on its role in history.
A recent study by researchers at USC and other universities found that substantive efforts to repair trust, such as apologies and commitments to reform, are critical in regaining trust. The study showed that nothing beats showing true contrition in winning back trust.
A new algae monitoring method developed by USC scientists aims to predict when and where toxic algal blooms will occur. The research focuses on the increase of harmful toxins in shellfish due to neurotoxin-producing algae.
A study by USC, Stanford, and Kellogg School researchers found that individuals with power but low status are more likely to engage in demeaning activities. The study's results support the idea that a combination of power and lack of respect can be toxic, as seen in incidents like Abu Ghraib torture and the Stanford Prison Experiment.
A study by USC researchers suggests that high dietary intake of calcium causes prostate cancer among African-American men genetically good at absorbing the mineral. Men with poor calcium absorption were less likely to develop advanced prostate cancer.
Researchers found that short-term and long-term motor memory compete against each other, with switching between tasks improving retention. USC scientists' discovery could lead to optimized computer programs for stroke patient rehabilitation.
Researchers found that the circadian cycle, regulating day-night rhythms, drives gene expression in mussels more than previously thought. The tidal cycle's influence was less significant, with 80-90% of genes showing rhythmic expression linked to the circadian cycle.
USC scientists have created the world's first high-resolution images of the α7 receptor, a molecule responsible for transmitting signals between neurons. This breakthrough promises to revolutionize drug design by allowing pharmaceutical companies to target specific receptors instead of using trial-and-error approaches.
Researchers found that visual processing also activates the same parts of the brain involved in touch sensations, allowing computers to accurately predict which object is being viewed. This connection enables a 'mind's touch,' where memories of tactile experiences are replayed when viewing corresponding visual images.
Researchers at USC's Keck School of Medicine identified a protein called Sab that protects the liver from acetaminophen toxicity in mice. Silencing this protein also prevents liver injury caused by apoptosis and other stressors, offering a potential new target for preventing drug-induced liver disease.
Researchers found a strong association between high-quality medical care and improved health and school engagement in undocumented children. Children with regular access to healthcare reported better academic performance and missed fewer school days due to illness or injury.
A recent USC study found that the brain prioritizes winning in a social setting over individual success, leading to increased risky and competitive behavior. This phenomenon is linked to the activation of the striatum and medial prefrontal cortex regions of the brain.
Researchers found that people who frequently eat popcorn at the movies will consume stale popcorn regardless of its taste. To break this habit, dieters can try disrupting automatic eating habits by using their non-dominant hand.
Biologists at USC discovered major declines in the availability of an enzyme, known as the Lon protease, as human cells grow older. The finding may help explain why humans lose energy with age and could point medicine toward new diets or pharmaceuticals to slow the aging process.
Researchers have created a reusable system to store and extract hydrogen from ammonia borane, a stable solid, making it suitable for various applications. The system is air-stable and efficient, with potential uses in motor-driven cycles and small aircraft.
Researchers at the University of Southern California found that mice lacking a key enzyme are unable to properly assess threats, leading to defensive behaviors in response to neutral stimuli and reduced caution in the presence of danger. The study suggests that this deficiency may be related to an inability to adapt to environmental cues.
A USC scientist has created a lentiviral vector that targets and destroys HIV-infected cells using 'suicide gene therapy', depleting about 35% of existing HIV cells in culture dishes. The treatment approach is an important step towards curing HIV and will be tested in mice next.
A USC researcher collected samples from floating sediment traps in the San Pedro Basin to study how much carbon is locked up in the ocean. Her findings suggest that the majority of particulate organic carbon falling to the basin floor is marine-derived, acting as a carbon sink taking carbon out of the atmosphere via phytoplankton and l...
A study suggests that middle-aged American health disparities contribute to a life expectancy gap with Europeans. By improving middle-age health, the US could save $632 billion by 2050 through reduced healthcare costs.
Researchers developed a quantum computing system that resists 'quantum bug' decoherence, allowing qubits to last up to 500 microseconds. By using high magnetic fields and molecular magnets, they suppressed decoherence and increased signal detection in qubits.
Scientists at USC have proven that oncogenes can convert normal cells into stem-like cells, leading to a new approach in treating diseases with stem cell therapy. The study successfully converted human skin cells into brain cells by suppressing p53, suggesting it determines cell fate rather than only cancer outcome.
A USC study reveals that empathetic responses are generated by both the sensory-motor and rationalizing parts of the brain. The research found that even individuals with physical differences can understand pain in a different limb due to automatic brain processes.
A study by USC Marshall professors Scott Wiltermuth and Vanessa K. Bohns found that adopting dominant postures decreases sensitivity to pain and increases feelings of power and control.
A study led by USC researchers found that Chinese youth who reported frequent vegetable consumption and physical activity were more likely to be overweight. The analysis of 9,023 questionnaires revealed paradoxical relationships between weight, sleep duration, diet, and socioeconomic status in Chinese adolescents.
A USC researcher found that the human brain can simulate physical sensations in response to emotional stories, leading to increased moral behavior and motivation to help others. This phenomenon is detected using brain scans and may be an evolutionary mechanism for promoting social behavior.
A USC team identified a genetic marker that predicts patient response to cetuximab-based therapy for locally advanced rectal cancer. The study found that 45% of patients with a specific EGF61 variant emerged disease-free after treatment.
Researchers found that chronic stress causes overproduction of the RCAN1 gene, leading to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Down syndrome. Overexpression of this gene causes hyper-phosphorylation of tau proteins, damaging brain cells and disrupting signal transmission.
A study by USC researchers reveals that the inefficiency of activation-induced deoxycytidine deaminase is key to generating antibody diversity, a crucial component of the immune system. The enzyme's random process creates mutations in immunoglobulin genes, producing a diverse array of antibodies.
Researchers develop a way to duplicate the neural mechanism of learning in rats, restoring memory function. The team's artificial hippocampal system can strengthen internal brain memory and enhance cognitive processes, paving the way for potential treatments for Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders.
Researchers at USC have found that the energy difference between two alpha-synuclein structures is less than previously thought, offering new insights into the protein's role in Parkinson's disease. This discovery could help explain why the protein misfolds and becomes toxic to surrounding nerve cells.
Researchers found that only one-quarter of water molecules at the surface exhibit characteristics of both gas and liquid phases, allowing for new understanding of chemical reactions and atmospheric balance. The study provides a framework for investigating other interfaces, such as those in living cells.
A USC study shows that small, daily changes to a healthy lifestyle can significantly improve quality of life for seniors. The trial involved over 200 participants aged 60+, who made sustainable changes such as visiting museums or taking public transportation, resulting in lower rates of depression and improved overall well-being.
Researchers have discovered a chromosomal mutation responsible for a very rare condition called CGH, which causes individuals to grow excess hair on their bodies. The study found that the insertion of chromosome 5 into the X chromosome appears to turn on a gene, likely SOX3, leading to excessive hair growth.