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Study could help target new pancreatitis treatments

Researchers have discovered that deleting specific genes can significantly reduce toxic calcium release in pancreatic cells, which can trigger pancreatitis. The study's findings may lead to the development of more effective treatments for the disease, particularly those related to excessive drinking.

SourceUniversity of Liverpool·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 29, 2009

A penny for your prions

Researchers discovered that prion proteins bind more stably to copper in human bodies, which may prevent their misfolding. The study suggests that copper binding could play a beneficial role in early stages of prion diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 25, 2009

An easy way to find a needle in a haystack by removing the haystack

Researchers at Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology developed a new method, called MAILD, to quickly and reliably detect metabolites in biological samples. The technique uses classical mass spectrometry and enables the measurement of a large number of metabolites, opening doors for targeted and high-throughput metabolomics.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 18, 2009

Quantum teleportation between distant matter qubits

Researchers at the University of Maryland and the University of Michigan have teleported quantum information directly from one atom to another over a substantial distance. They achieved this feat by entangling the quantum states of two individual ytterbium ions, allowing for the transfer of information without physical medium.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalScience·DateJan 22, 2009

Global structures of the DE3 tide

Researchers found that the DE3 tide can propagate above 100km and exhibits a 2-year cycle oscillation. The tidal signal was analyzed using TIMED mission data, revealing two dominant Hough modes with annual unimodal distribution.

SourceScience China Press·JournalChinese Science Bulletin·DateDec 29, 2008

Solar flare surprise

Researchers detected a stream of perfectly intact hydrogen atoms shooting out of an X-class solar flare, surprising scientists. The discovery suggests that all strong flares might emit hydrogen bursts, which could be detected using the NASA's STEREO spacecraft.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateDec 15, 2008

UBC researchers develop breakthrough technique to unlock the secret of plasmas

UBC researchers have developed a new class of ultracold plasma made from molecules, which promises to revolutionize our understanding of plasmas and their properties. The technique creates plasmas three orders of magnitude denser than those made with trapped atoms, allowing for higher levels of correlation and potentially leading to ne...

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateNov 21, 2008

Coming soon: Improved lithium ion batteries?

A team of scientists has developed a new material for anodes that can store more lithium ions than graphite, leading to improved battery performance. The highly porous silicon structure allows for rapid charging and discharging, enabling devices like mobile phones and laptops to run for longer periods.

SourceWiley·DateNov 20, 2008

AGU journal highlights: Nov. 11, 2008

Studies reveal Greenland's ice sheet is thinning due to warming temperatures, while Arctic sea ice loss increases phytoplankton growth. Meanwhile, data from Mars Express spacecraft indicates a comet-like ion tail forms when solar wind sweeps ions into the Martian atmosphere.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateNov 12, 2008

Metal hazard from table wines

A meta-analysis found that many wines contain high levels of metal ions, exceeding the safe threshold and posing potential health risks. The study suggests that these metals may contribute to neurological problems, oxidative damage, and chronic inflammatory diseases.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalChemistry Central Journal·DateOct 29, 2008

Ruthenium in a clinch

A new ruthenium catalyst allows for the selective synthesis of primary amines directly from alcohols and ammonia under mild conditions. This process avoids toxic reagents and waste products, making it ecologically and economically beneficial.

SourceWiley·DateOct 20, 2008

New material can find a needle in a nuclear waste haystack

A team of Northwestern University chemists has developed a new metal sulfide material, KMS-1, that can effectively remove strontium, a major component of nuclear waste, by exploiting its unique properties. The material works across the pH scale and outperforms existing methods in terms of selectivity and efficiency.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 3, 2008

Mobile metal atoms

German researchers have developed a new class of inorganic ionic conductor materials with a structure analogous to the mineral argyrodite. These materials exhibit unusually high lithium mobility, which is essential for enhancing the performance of rechargeable batteries.

SourceWiley·DateJan 3, 2008

Paying peanuts for clean water

Researchers have found that peanut husks can extract up to 95% of copper ions from waste water, while pine sawdust achieves only 44% extraction. The process works best at slightly acidic conditions, making it a promising solution for reducing toxic copper levels in natural resources

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Environment and Pollution·DateNov 8, 2007

How does the antitumor drug get to the cell nucleus?

Italian researchers propose that copper transport protein Ctr1 binds platinum ion from cisplatin, stabilizing the trimeric channel structure and enabling endocytosis. This process allows cisplatin to accumulate in organelles, including the nucleus, where it exerts its antitumor effects.

SourceWiley·DateNov 2, 2007

Lighter gas reduces damage to optics in extreme ultraviolet lithography

Scientists have developed a technique to generate light and reduce damage in extreme ultraviolet lithography by adding a lighter gas to the plasma. This reduces the number and energy of xenon ions reaching the collector surface, extending its lifetime while maintaining minimal impact on light production.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalIEEE Transactions on Plasma Science·DateSep 12, 2007

Bioelectronics

Researchers at Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry have developed a novel, noninvasive sensor that couples ion streams directly to microelectronic devices using direct cell–chip contact. This breakthrough enables selective measurement techniques for diagnostics and drug research without destroying the cells.

SourceWiley·DateJun 25, 2007