ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Transition between arm, hand occurs thanks to a genetic switch
• Refugee children's academic outcomes similar to non-refugee peers despite learning challenges
• Reflecting on Ebola outbreak
• New research could personalize medicine for arthritis patients
• Research suggests a way to identify animals at risk of blood clots
• Using static electricity, microrobots can land and stick to surfaces
• Dynamic dazzle distorts speed
• Scientists create 'rewritable magnetic charge ice'
• Hubble takes Mars portrait near close approach
• Excessive drinkers, high income households pay majority of state alcohol tax increases
• Life satisfaction and electricity consumption
• Plant cell wall development revealed in space and time for the first time
• High levels of protein p62 predict liver cancer recurrence
• Researchers identify super-oncogenic protein that promotes development of melanoma
• Researchers chart landscape of genetic, epigenetic regulation in plants
• Fruit fly brains shed light on why we get tired when we stay up too late
• 'Sunscreen' gene may help protect against skin cancer
• Malignancy-associated gene network regulated by RNA binding protein
• Heart defect prediction technology could lead to earlier, more informed treatment
• Biologists find how plants reconstitute stem cells
• Why humans (and not mice) are susceptible to Zika
• 'Piggybacking' mitochondrial DNA can compromise mitochondrial replacement therapy
• Antibiotics that kill gut bacteria also stop growth of new brain cells
• How do some birds get such bright red feathers?
• Benefit of organizational misconduct: Others in group may work harder, study says
• Cancer can be combated with reprogrammed macrophage cells
• How plants conquered the land
• Lower income families less likely to use online learning tools
• Prediabetes: Fatty liver, visceral obesity, production and action of insulin modulate risk
• Surgical Risk Calculator has good prediction accuracy, new study finds
• Confidence in Iron Dome, coupled with resilience, can reduce PTSD symptoms
• 'Right to try' laws make safety, efficacy secondary to speedy access
• Executive powers in the nursery
• How is rattlesnake venom like fine wine? Both have regional varieties
• Why do animals hide their warning signals? Paradox explained
• Shedding light on the 'dark matter' of the genome
• Cosmic heavy metals help scientists trace the history of galaxies
• Social media poses threat to people with intellectual disabilities
• Vitamin E a potential biomarker for development of brain tumors
• Support from family, friends important to helping prevent depression in teenagers
• Atmospheric aerosols can significantly cool down climate
• Hormone may offer new approach to type 2 diabetes
• Higher survival rate for overweight colorectal cancer patients than normal-weight patients
• Can a healthy lifestyle prevent cancer?
• New angles on visual cloaking of everyday objects
• Doctors changing their approach to common heart attack treatment
• Ancient tsunami evidence on Mars reveals life potential
• NASA’s Van Allen probes reveal long-term behavior of Earth’s ring current
• 'Simple is better': Simple model predicts pesticide concentrations in environment more reliably
• Lyme disease early-detection test is effective, study shows
• Scientists identify 'smoking gun' in metastasis of hybrid cells
• Your gender-stereotypic genes may be giving you a leg up in dating
• Drop in childhood obesity cannot be explained by health behaviors
• Photon collisions: Photonic billiards might be the newest game!
• A slick way to test artificial knees and hips
• Switch and stick: Potential new adhesive can be turned on and off
• Scent guides hawk moths to the best-fitting flowers
• Will more snow over Antarctica offset rising seas? Don't count on it
• Identification of a chemotherapy resistance factor in breast cancer patients
• Alcohol intervention programs ineffective on fraternity members, study concludes

Transition between arm, hand occurs thanks to a genetic switch Posted: 19 May 2016 01:12 PM PDT During embryonic life, the emergence of body limbs is orchestrated by a family of architect genes, which are themselves regulated by two DNA structures. While the first presides over the construction of the arm, the other takes over for the development of the hand. Geneticists show that the same architect proteins, called HOX13 and acting together, complete the formation of the arm and initiate that of the hand, allowing to connect the two processes.

Refugee children's academic outcomes similar to non-refugee peers despite learning challenges Posted: 19 May 2016 12:19 PM PDT Refugee children had similar academic success as other children if adequately supported, despite having more behavioral and emotional problems overall, a comprehensive review has found.

Reflecting on Ebola outbreak Posted: 19 May 2016 12:19 PM PDT To make the world safer against future infectious disease threats, national health systems should be strengthened, the World Health Organization's emergency and outbreak response activities should be consolidated and bolstered, and research and development should be enhanced, says a new article.

New research could personalize medicine for arthritis patients Posted: 19 May 2016 11:48 AM PDT Recently, a team of scientists examined the whole-joint gene expression by RNA sequencing at one day, one, six and 12 weeks after injury. The team used a new, non-invasive tibial compression mouse model of PTOA, that mimics ACL rupture in humans from a single high-impact injury.

Research suggests a way to identify animals at risk of blood clots Posted: 19 May 2016 11:48 AM PDT A common diagnostic tool often used to identify patients at risk of bleeding may also be used to identify those predisposed to clot excessively, new findings from a retrospective study has found.

Using static electricity, microrobots can land and stick to surfaces Posted: 19 May 2016 11:45 AM PDT Roboticists demonstrate that their flying microrobots, nicknamed the RoboBees, can now perch during flight to save energy - like bats, birds or butterflies.

Dynamic dazzle distorts speed Posted: 19 May 2016 11:45 AM PDT Dazzle camouflage, as used on World War I battleships to fool U-boat commanders, has been modernized for the twenty-first century with moving patterns. New research has found that these moving patterns can cause a marked change in perceived speed. This would be enough to cause a targeting error of up to 2m for a Land Rover at a distance of 70m, moving at 55mph.

Scientists create 'rewritable magnetic charge ice' Posted: 19 May 2016 11:45 AM PDT Scientists have developed a new material, called 'rewritable magnetic charge ice,' that permits an unprecedented degree of control over local magnetic fields and could pave the way for new computing technologies.

Hubble takes Mars portrait near close approach Posted: 19 May 2016 11:06 AM PDT On May 12, 2016, astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope captured this striking image of Mars, when the planet was 50 million miles from Earth. The photo reveals details as small as 20 miles to 30 miles across. This observation was made just a few days before Mars opposition on May 22, when the sun and Mars will be on exact opposite sides of Earth, and Mars will be 47 million miles from Earth.

Excessive drinkers, high income households pay majority of state alcohol tax increases Posted: 19 May 2016 10:03 AM PDT People who drink too much and those with higher household incomes would pay more following an increase in state alcohol taxes than those who drink less and have lower household incomes, according to a new study.

Life satisfaction and electricity consumption Posted: 19 May 2016 10:02 AM PDT A nation's electricity consumption has been seen as a useful proxy for measuring economic growth offering a useful alternative to conventional measures such as gross domestic product (GDP) by incorporating the assumption that greater consumption means a better quality of life. However, country-by-country analysis suggests that this may not necessarily be the case.

Plant cell wall development revealed in space and time for the first time Posted: 19 May 2016 10:02 AM PDT Scientists have mapped changes in composition of plant cell walls over space and time, providing new insights into the development and growth of all plants. The cell wall is a defining feature of plant cells, providing essential functions like strength and mechanical support to plant tissues.

High levels of protein p62 predict liver cancer recurrence Posted: 19 May 2016 10:02 AM PDT High levels of the protein p62 in human liver samples are strongly associated with cancer recurrence and reduced patient survival, scientists have discovered. In mice, they also found that p62 is required for liver cancer to form.

Researchers identify super-oncogenic protein that promotes development of melanoma Posted: 19 May 2016 10:02 AM PDT A malicious form of ATF2, a protein that drives the formation of melanoma, has been discovered by a research team. In a new study, researchers looked at the oncogenic potential of a 'dead' form of ATF2 in mice with mutations in BRAF, a kinase that transmits signals promoting cell division and is often mutated in pigmented skin cells. The same mutation is found in about half of all human melanomas.

Researchers chart landscape of genetic, epigenetic regulation in plants Posted: 19 May 2016 10:02 AM PDT New findings yield insights into how plants get their traits. Revealing a landscape of protein-binding zones on DNA, collectively dubbed the "cistrome," shows how plants control where and when genes are expressed. Previous methods for mapping the cistrome in plant cells were difficult and slow, but the new approach, say authors, overcomes those hurdles to offer a sweeping view of this critical aspect of genetic regulation.

Fruit fly brains shed light on why we get tired when we stay up too late Posted: 19 May 2016 10:01 AM PDT Studying fruit flies, whose sleep is remarkably similar to that in people, researchers say they've identified brain cells that are responsible for why delaying bedtime creates chronic sleepiness.

'Sunscreen' gene may help protect against skin cancer Posted: 19 May 2016 10:01 AM PDT A new study has identified a 'sunscreen' gene that may help stave off skin cancer. Researchers found that the 'UV radiation Resistance Associated Gene' is a tumor suppressor for skin cancer, which is the most common form of cancer in the United States. People who have the mutated UV-resistant gene or low levels of the UV-resistant gene may be at higher risk of melanoma or other skin cancers, especially if they go sunbathing or tanning frequently.

Malignancy-associated gene network regulated by RNA binding protein Posted: 19 May 2016 10:01 AM PDT The RNA binding protein IGF2BP3 is normally active in fetal tissue and undetectable in most adult tissue. But production of the protein is reactivated in many types of aggressive cancer, and it is associated with poor prognosis in both solid tumors and leukemias. New findings point toward a possible mechanism by which this protein drives metastasis.

Heart defect prediction technology could lead to earlier, more informed treatment Posted: 19 May 2016 10:01 AM PDT An experimental model uses genetics-guided biomechanics and patient-derived stem cells to predict what type of inherited heart defect a child will develop, according to authors of a new study. A multi-institutional team developing the technology announces that it would let doctors intervene earlier to help patients manage their conditions and help inform future pharmacologic treatment options.

Biologists find how plants reconstitute stem cells Posted: 19 May 2016 10:01 AM PDT Stem cells are typically thought to have the intrinsic ability to generate or replace specialized cells. However, a team of biologists has shown that regenerating plants can naturally reconstitute their stem cells from more mature cells by replaying embryogenesis.

Why humans (and not mice) are susceptible to Zika Posted: 19 May 2016 10:01 AM PDT Flaviviruses -- such as Zika, dengue, and yellow fever -- have emerged as human pathogens because of their ability to specifically overcome our anti-viral defenses. In the case of Zika, researchers that one of the virus's seven non-structural proteins (NS5) is singularly responsible for blocking the action of interferons (proteins that stop viral replication) in human cells, while mouse cells are unaffected.

'Piggybacking' mitochondrial DNA can compromise mitochondrial replacement therapy Posted: 19 May 2016 10:01 AM PDT Mitochondrial replacement therapy shows promise for preventing the inheritance of mitochondrial DNA diseases. However, small amounts of mitochondrial DNA can sometimes hitch a ride with the transferred nucleus, and a new study shows that this DNA can override the mitochondria in the donor cell. The findings may call into question the beneficial effect of nuclear transfer for mitochondrial replacement therapy.

Antibiotics that kill gut bacteria also stop growth of new brain cells Posted: 19 May 2016 10:01 AM PDT Antibiotics strong enough to kill off gut bacteria can also stop the growth of new brain cells in the hippocampus, a section of the brain associated with memory, reports a new study in mice. Researchers also uncovered a clue to why -- a type of white blood cell seems to act as a communicator between the brain, the immune system, and the gut.

How do some birds get such bright red feathers? Posted: 19 May 2016 10:01 AM PDT In the bird world, the color red has special significance. Many species use red signals to attract mates or deter rivals, adding the color to their beaks, feathers, or bare skin. As far as many birds are concerned, redder is better. Now, two teams of researchers have identified a gene that allows some bird species to convert yellow pigments from their diets into that remarkable red.

Benefit of organizational misconduct: Others in group may work harder, study says Posted: 19 May 2016 09:15 AM PDT Misconduct within an organization is generally seen as a predicament at best, a catastrophe at worst. But a new study shows that such misconduct, or "deviance," can prove beneficial by causing "non-deviant" members of the group to work harder in order to alleviate their own discomfort with the organization's tarnished image.

Cancer can be combated with reprogrammed macrophage cells Posted: 19 May 2016 09:12 AM PDT Researchers have generated antibodies that reprogram a type of macrophage cell in the tumor, making the immune system better able to recognize and kill tumor cells. The study, say the scientists, could lead to a new therapy and provide a potentially important diagnostic tool for breast cancer and malignant melanoma.

How plants conquered the land Posted: 19 May 2016 09:11 AM PDT A key gene has been found that assisted the transition of plants from water to the land around 500 million years ago. The ANR gene is required to tolerate 'extreme dehydration' in the moss Physcomitrella patens, a land plant that is used as an experimental model.

Lower income families less likely to use online learning tools Posted: 19 May 2016 09:11 AM PDT Parents looking to help their children succeed academically can access free online educational programs, games and services to help them outside the classroom. A plethora of these tools have popped up in recent years in an attempt to close the achievement gap and digital divide between the rich and poor. Instead, the gap seems to be getting larger because of these tools, according to a new study.

Prediabetes: Fatty liver, visceral obesity, production and action of insulin modulate risk Posted: 19 May 2016 09:11 AM PDT Prediabetes is associated with increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, dementia and cancer. However, the disease risk considerably varies among subjects. Scientists have now summarized information from the literature and have provided novel data indicating that in future the determination of the 4 major phenotypes fatty liver, visceral obesity and impaired production and action of insulin may help to improve prediction and prevention of cardiometabolic risk in prediabetes.

Surgical Risk Calculator has good prediction accuracy, new study finds Posted: 19 May 2016 09:11 AM PDT The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Surgical Risk Calculator accurately estimates the chance of a patient experiencing postoperative complications, and its performance can improve with recalibration of the tool, according to new research findings.

Confidence in Iron Dome, coupled with resilience, can reduce PTSD symptoms Posted: 19 May 2016 09:11 AM PDT Belief in the success of the Iron Dome air defense system, coupled with a strong sense of resilience (an inner trait that results in positive adaptation to trauma), can reduce post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, suggests a new study examining PTSD symptoms in Israeli civilians following Operation Protective Edge, the Israel-Gaza conflict in 2014.

'Right to try' laws make safety, efficacy secondary to speedy access Posted: 19 May 2016 09:11 AM PDT State 'right to try' laws can give terminally ill patients early access to experimental drugs and medical devices, but they arguably make safety and efficacy secondary to speedy access, according to a new report by science policy experts.

Executive powers in the nursery Posted: 19 May 2016 09:09 AM PDT A baby's cry not only commands our attention, it also rattles our executive functions -- the very neural and cognitive processes we use for making everyday decisions, according to a new study.

How is rattlesnake venom like fine wine? Both have regional varieties Posted: 19 May 2016 09:09 AM PDT If you're a rattlesnake, you want to bring the right weapon to a squirrel fight. And that venomous weapon varies from place to place, evolutionarily calibrated to overpower the local squirrels' defenses, according to new research.

Why do animals hide their warning signals? Paradox explained Posted: 19 May 2016 09:09 AM PDT Because of sudden bright displays made by distasteful prey at the moment of being attacked, their predators quickly learn to discriminate the distasteful prey from the tasty ones even if both types of prey are dull and inconspicuous, say investigators.

Shedding light on the 'dark matter' of the genome Posted: 19 May 2016 09:09 AM PDT What used to be dismissed by many as 'junk DNA' is back with a vengeance as growing data points to the importance of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) -- genome's messages that do not code for proteins -- in development and disease. Researchers have developed a method that enables scientists to explore in depth what ncRNAs do in human cells.

Cosmic heavy metals help scientists trace the history of galaxies Posted: 19 May 2016 09:09 AM PDT The origin of many of the most precious elements on the periodic table, such as gold, silver and platinum, has perplexed scientists for more than six decades. Recently, however, a team of astrophysicists has provided an answer.

Social media poses threat to people with intellectual disabilities Posted: 19 May 2016 09:09 AM PDT People with intellectual disabilities are more susceptible to exploitation and abuse, and the rise of the internet only increases their vulnerability, say researchers.

Vitamin E a potential biomarker for development of brain tumors Posted: 19 May 2016 09:07 AM PDT Researchers have studied possible causes behind the development of brain tumors. The results show differences in expression of certain molecules known as metabolites when comparing healthy individuals with people who would eventually develop brain tumors. The greatest difference were found when looking at vitamin E.

Support from family, friends important to helping prevent depression in teenagers Posted: 19 May 2016 09:07 AM PDT The importance of friendships and family support in helping prevent depression among teenagers has been highlighted in new research. The study also found that teenagers who had grown up in a difficult family environment were more likely than their peers to be bullied at school.

Atmospheric aerosols can significantly cool down climate Posted: 19 May 2016 09:07 AM PDT It is possible to significantly slow down and even temporarily stop the progression of global warming by increasing the atmospheric aerosol concentration, shows a new study. However, climate engineering does not remove the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Hormone may offer new approach to type 2 diabetes Posted: 19 May 2016 09:07 AM PDT Improvements in type 2 diabetes in patients who have had gastric bypass surgery has led researchers to uncover the role of a key hormone in the disease. Development of a drug that promotes the hormone could radically change the way the disease is treated.

Higher survival rate for overweight colorectal cancer patients than normal-weight patients Posted: 19 May 2016 09:07 AM PDT Overweight colorectal cancer patients were 55 percent less likely to die from their cancer than normal-weight patients who have the disease, according to a new study.

Can a healthy lifestyle prevent cancer? Posted: 19 May 2016 09:07 AM PDT A large proportion of cancer cases and deaths among U.S. individuals who are white might be prevented if people quit smoking, avoided heavy drinking, maintained a BMI between 18.5 and 27.5, and got moderate weekly exercise for at least 150 minutes or vigorous exercise for at least 75 minutes, according to a new study.

New angles on visual cloaking of everyday objects Posted: 19 May 2016 09:07 AM PDT Using the same mathematical framework as the Rochester Cloak, researchers have been able to use flat screen displays to extend the range of angles that can be hidden from view. Their method lays out how cloaks of arbitrary shapes, that work from multiple viewpoints, may be practically realized in the near future using commercially available digital devices.

Doctors changing their approach to common heart attack treatment Posted: 19 May 2016 07:17 AM PDT After a heart attack, doctors are changing practice trends as the debate continues on optimal time to administer antiplatelet therapy, researchers report.

Ancient tsunami evidence on Mars reveals life potential Posted: 19 May 2016 07:17 AM PDT The geologic shape of what were once shorelines through Mars' northern plains convinces scientists that two large meteorites -- hitting the planet millions of years apart -- triggered a pair of mega-tsunamis. These gigantic waves forever scarred the Martian landscape and yielded evidence of cold, salty oceans conducive to sustaining life.

NASA’s Van Allen probes reveal long-term behavior of Earth’s ring current Posted: 19 May 2016 07:17 AM PDT New findings have revealed that the ring current -- an electrical current carried by energetic ions that encircles our planet -- behaves in a much different way than previously understood.

'Simple is better': Simple model predicts pesticide concentrations in environment more reliably Posted: 19 May 2016 07:13 AM PDT For the evaluation of pesticides a simple model yields more reliable results than the method currently used in the EU. The researchers show that a significantly less complex box model for the risk assessment of pesticides can offer greater environmental safety than the FOCUS modelling approach presently employed by the EU within the regulatory risk assessment.

Lyme disease early-detection test is effective, study shows Posted: 19 May 2016 07:10 AM PDT After three years and 300 patients, researchers have proof that their early-detection urine test for Lyme disease works. In the case of Lyme disease, some patients may still have active cases but traditional tests don't register it, and these patients may not be receiving the additional round of treatment they need, authors say.

Scientists identify 'smoking gun' in metastasis of hybrid cells Posted: 19 May 2016 07:10 AM PDT A new study models how cancer hijacks a common cell-signaling network to form hybrid cells that communicate with each other and metastasize in groups.

Your gender-stereotypic genes may be giving you a leg up in dating Posted: 19 May 2016 07:10 AM PDT Your success at speed-dating might be influenced by your genetic make-up and your potential partner's ability to detect so-called 'good genes.' The research team found that participants who were more likely to be asked on a second date had genotypes consistent with personal traits that people often desire in a romantic partner.

Drop in childhood obesity cannot be explained by health behaviors Posted: 19 May 2016 07:07 AM PDT A 2014 study by the CDC showed a decline in the prevalence of obesity among 2- to 5-year-olds between 2003-2004 (a 13 percent child obesity rate) and 2011-2012 (a 7 percent child obesity rate); however, the study can not identify the health and demographic factors linked to the decline.

Photon collisions: Photonic billiards might be the newest game! Posted: 19 May 2016 07:07 AM PDT When one snooker ball hits another, both spring away from each other in an elastic manner. In the case of two photons a similar process -- the elastic collision -- has never been observed. Physicists have now shown, however, that such a process does not only occur, but even could soon be registered in heavy ion collisions at the LHC accelerator.

A slick way to test artificial knees and hips Posted: 19 May 2016 07:07 AM PDT A new study suggests that natural proteins can be used to effectively test new replacement hip and knee joints in the laboratory. The work could help with improving design in order to reduce wear and tear and increase the lifespan of such prosthetics.

Switch and stick: Potential new adhesive can be turned on and off Posted: 19 May 2016 07:07 AM PDT The chemical element gallium could be used as a new reversible adhesive that allows its adhesive effect to be switched on and off with ease, report scientists.

Scent guides hawk moths to the best-fitting flowers Posted: 19 May 2016 07:07 AM PDT Scientists have demonstrated that hawk moths acquired the highest energy gain when they visited flowers that matched the length of their proboscis. The moths were supported in their choice of the best-fitting nectar sources by an innate preference for the scent of matching flowers.

Will more snow over Antarctica offset rising seas? Don't count on it Posted: 19 May 2016 07:06 AM PDT Heavier snow over Antarctica was supposed to be one of the few brakes on sea-level rise in a warming world. But that prediction is not reliable, says a new study of Antarctic snowfall over the past 31,000 years.

Identification of a chemotherapy resistance factor in breast cancer patients Posted: 19 May 2016 07:06 AM PDT Scientists have identified low expression of methylation-controlled J protein (MCJ) as a marker of poor response to chemotherapy.

Alcohol intervention programs ineffective on fraternity members, study concludes Posted: 19 May 2016 07:06 AM PDT Interventions designed to reduce alcohol use among fraternity members are no more effective than no intervention at all, according to an analysis of 25 years of research involving over 6,000 university students.

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