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Rare earth metal enhances phosphate glass

Researchers at Penn State have developed a new type of glass that blocks ultraviolet light and has increased radiation damage resistance. The cerium-containing phosphate glasses can be used in windows, sunglasses, and solar cells.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Non-Crystalline Solids·DateDec 15, 2009

Using waste to recover waste uranium

Scientists have recovered uranium from polluted waters using bacteria and inositol phosphate, a cheap waste material. The process is economically viable, especially as the world price of uranium is likely to increase, offering an environmental protection benefit.

UT Southwestern research reveals how cells tell time

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center used the fungus Neurospora to study the biochemistry and genetics of body clocks. They found that a protein called FRQ marks time by a sequence of changes in its chemical structure, which controls many biological processes including cell division, hormonal release, and sleep/wake cycles.

SourceUT Southwestern Medical Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 8, 2009

Research could lead to new non-antibiotic drugs to counter hospital infections

Research on Pseudomonas aeruginosa reveals the mineral phosphate plays a crucial role in its deadly behavior, potentially leading to new treatments that disarm the pathogen without killing it. Excess phosphate can mitigate harm caused by activated P. aeruginosa, suggesting a potential therapeutic approach.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Medical Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 8, 2009

Scientists discover at the European Synchrotron the first fossil brain

French and American scientists used synchrotron holotomography to reveal the first fossil brain, a 300-million-year-old relative of sharks and ratfish. The discovery sheds light on brain evolution during major transitions and demonstrates the potential for microtomographic techniques in studying fossil brains.

SourceEuropean Synchrotron Radiation Facility·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 2, 2009

Johns Hopkins researchers detect sweet cacophony while listening to cellular cross-talk

Researchers have discovered a key role of sugar molecules in regulating cellular processes, potentially leading to new treatments for diseases like diabetes, neurodegeneration, and cancer. The findings suggest that sugar molecules can influence protein function and interactions, providing a new target for manipulation by drugs.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 20, 2008

What emotional memories are made of

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that a hormone released during emotional arousal 'primes' nerve cells to remember events by increasing their chemical sensitivity. This process, known as the 'priming effect,' enhances the sculpting of memories into long-term storage.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalCell·DateOct 4, 2007

Critical pairing

Scientists discover that the structure of the bases, rather than the backbone, is critical in developing genetic material. They created molecules with alternative bases and found that only one pair was strong enough to form specific base pairs.

SourceWiley·DateNov 17, 2006

A 'dimmer switch' for genes

Researchers found that the unstructured regions of protein Ets-1 play a crucial role in controlling gene expression, acting like a dimmer switch rather than an on-off switch. The study reveals that phosphorylation affects protein activity by decreasing internal motion and altering gene binding.

SourceUniversity of Utah Health·JournalScience·DateJun 30, 2005

UT Southwestern researchers find calcium intake contributing factor in formation of kidney stones

Researchers found that urinary calcium levels play a significant role in the formation of both calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate stones. The studies suggest that patients with elevated intestinal calcium absorption and urinary calcium levels may need to limit their calcium intake to prevent kidney stone formation.

SourceUT Southwestern Medical Center·JournalThe Journal of Urology·DateDec 28, 2004

The Plasti-Bone

Acer's process creates a micro-porous calcium phosphate coated polymer 'bone' that allows natural bone growth, reducing recovery time to 18 months. The technology, funded by the Navy Small Business Technology Transition program, has shown success in animal testing and tissue cultures.

Tooth, heal thyself

Researchers at NIST have invented composites that can promote re-growth of natural tooth structures efficiently. These bioactive, biocompatible materials can be used to stimulate the repair of defective teeth, minimizing decay under orthodontic braces and potentially in root canal therapy.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalPublic Administration Journal of Research·DateJun 10, 2003

Current theory on cause of kidney stones refuted

Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine have localized the original mineral deposit site for most common stone formers and determined the composition of calcium phosphate crystals. This discovery refutes current theories on kidney stone formation, shedding new light on the disease's complex physiology.

SourceIndiana University·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateMar 4, 2003

You Could Even Say It Glows

Researchers at the University of Maryland have developed a new method to detect chemical weapons by reacting with specific phosphate esters. The system uses molecules that selectively detect even small amounts of lethal phosphate esters, reducing false positives from benign chemicals like pesticides.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateDec 1, 1998

Inhibition Of A Novel Gene Involved In Phosphorylating Starch In TransgenicPotato Tubers Leads To The Repression Of Cold Induced Sweetening

Scientists have isolated a novel gene involved in phosphorylating starch in potato tubers. Inhibiting its expression leads to reduced phosphate content and altered starch properties, resulting in improved degradation and reduced cold-induced sweetening. This discovery has significant implications for plant biotechnology.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateMay 14, 1998