Cell

Japanese neuroscientists from the RIKEN Brain Science Institute have uncovered a mechanism for an epileptic disorder which occurs in infants. “We hope to develop effective therapies for this intractable epilepsy from further work,” says project leader Kazuhiro Yamakawa.

Scientists in China have found that measuring potassium by gamma-ray spectroscopy is a cheap and easy way to assess weathering in rocks, which has implications for the construction and geotechnical industry.

New research has revealed how protein filaments drive a key cellular process by physically wrapping around and constricting bits of cell membrane

Japanese and American scientists have discovered a bactericidal peptide in M cells that is connected with gut immunity. M cells ingest bacteria or viruses and deliver them to our immune system. This research will help scientists develop a drug delivery system that can deliver medicines specifically to M cells.

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Stem cells: Identifying self renewing cells, Climate change: British bog holds clue to ancient global warming and Geochemistry: Argon retention in terrestrial planets

Japanese scientists describe crystal structures at the heart of antitumor compound synthesis

Smart surfaces can be switched between water-loving and water-repelling states in response to temperature, pH and glucose changes

Neurobiologists from Japan and the US have identified a signaling system functioning during vertebrate development that controls the proper positioning of cells giving rise to future olfactory neurons, and their eventual correct wiring to the brain.

Japanese researchers may have found a simple solution to the problem of keeping human embryonic stem (hES) cells alive after dissociation of the embryo into individual cells.

Warm gas blanket for a baby star, Plants’ contribution to climate change effects, Type 2 diabetes all in the mind?, Volcanoes and the evolution of atmospheric oxygen levels, MicroRNA involved in embryonic patterning, Childhood game lends biodiversity insights, Flies can 'taste' fizzy drinks and The origins of the orchid

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Developmental biology: New method sets stem cells apart, Human embryonic stem cells do a heart good, Shedding light on animals’ interiors

During the growth and development of organs, proteins act from outside the organs to direct the movements of cells. Researchers at the RIKEN Centre for Developmental Biology in Kobe have identified one such protein that is essential for the development of gonads in the nematode roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Neuropathology: Mouse model of obsessive compulsive disorder, Palaeoclimate: No need for an icy north, Quantum physics: How to measure light and finally… Diamonds really are forever

Two devices that help researchers correlate nerve cell activity with behaviour in the living worm are presented in Nature Methods this week.

The meeting covered the spectrum of current immunologic research, providing an opportunity for scientists from both countries to learn the latest developments in their respective fields and to establish personal relationships that should foster future collaborations.

This center is the cooperative research hub between RIKEN and Olympus Corporation, one of the leading Japanese manufacturers of consumer digital cameras and medical and lifescience research instrument.

The goal of this Symposium was to allow senior and junior investigators from both countries to present data in areas of common interest in order to initiate and foster long-term collaborations.

Plant growth can be badly stunted by excess ions in the soil. This effect, called acid soil syndrome, can cause severe agricultural yield losses, especially in areas prone to drought. For this reason, a team of researchers from RIKEN and two Japanese universities are working to identify genes that regulate a plant’s tolerance of ions

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Ageing and cancer: Henrietta's legacy, Geology: The creeping San Andreas, Materials: Testing one’s metal and Social mammals: Drive him away or let him stay

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Natural products in a flask, Prevention and treatment of craniosynostosis, Positive selection during human evolution, Signalling flies to sleep and a sponge to soak up regulatory RNAs

Researchers discover a key molecule involved in regulating our immune response

New revelations about how muscle tissue forms could help scientists develop more effective strategies for therapeutic tissue replacement

The Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) will host the Society for Biological Engineering (SBE)’s 3rd International Conference on Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (ICBN) at Biopolis on August 13 to 15, 2007 where international experts will present new discoveries at the interface of science, engineering and medicine.

Drug delivery systems need to maximize the therapeutic activity while minimizing negative side effects. Layered double hydroxide has great potential for a controlled release formulation. The second research is on Betulinic acid a natural product isolated from plants, which has potential as an anti-cancer agent.

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Behaviour: Of mice and man-eaters, Cancer: Gene reduces severity of lung cancer, An unfolding antibiotics story, How inflammatory lymphocytes develop, Seeing transcription in living colour and Virus-based screen for ion channel modulators.

An important stage in the early development of an embryo is the formation of the dorsal–ventral axis, which distinguishes the front (ventral) side of the animal from the back (dorsal). RIKEN researchers are identifying the genes and proteins that contribute to this process in Xenopus laevis, the African clawed frog.

Summaries of newsworthy papers include Genetic risk factor for multiple sclerosis, Graphene senses single molecules, A new twist on the AFM, To mend a broken heart, A genetic variant enhances emotional memory, Transporting immune cargo

Scientists have identified the cellular target of two important anticancer molecules as a component of the spliceosome and a rapid and very sensitive technique for the detection of infectious prion proteins is reported. Prions, the cause of neurodegenerative diseases such as mad cow are infectious proteins in the brain.

Social science and humanities expertise to be harnessed for international impact

IDRC's Innovation, Technology and Society (ITS) program invites proposals under these 4 headings - Limiting Patentability, Exempting Research, Accessing IP and Fostering Collaboration