ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Study raises concern of significant under-reporting of child abuse within US Army
• Studies of vulnerable populations get a 'bootstrapped' boost from statisticians
• Researchers identify biochemical mechanism behind a rare, painful genetic disease
• Scientists unravel mechanism fueling growth of aggressive Rhabdoid tumors
• Mars rock-ingredient stew seen as plus for habitability
• Researchers find bacterial protein that boosts insulin-producing cells in zebrafish
• New technique switches key biomolecules on and off
• Eat and be eaten: Invasive scavengers in Hawaii alter island nutrient cycle
• Pessimists, you aren't alone in feeling down
• Kelp beats the heat
• Breakup of supercontinent Pangea cooled mantle and thinned crust
• Laboratory-on-a-chip technique simplifies detection of cancer DNA biomarkers
• Therapy response in brain tumor cells is linked to disease prognosis
• Women with more social connections have higher breast cancer survival, study shows
• American death rate from drugs, alcohol, and mental disorders nearly triples since 1980
• Mutations acquired trans-Pacific may be key to changes in Zika severity
• Feeling grateful? No, thanks
• Scientists redefine horned dinosaur relationships by naming two new ceratopsian tribes
• Salmon, blue mussel, eider, and eel die from the same vitamin deficiency
• Workplace fun is fundamental for learning on the job
• Drug for narcolepsy could help food addicts lose weight
• Using herpes drugs to slow down Alzheimer's disease could become reality
• Topical skin cream for treatment of basal cell carcinoma shows promise as an alternative to surgery
• Chemists uncover a means to control catalytic reactions
• Research unlocks clues to language-based learning in children
• Faster (cheaper) method for making big bioactive ring molecules
• Squeezing life from DNA's double helix
• Cholesterol-fighting drugs lower risk of Alzheimer's disease
• Earth's magnetic fields could track ocean heat, study proposes
• Hands-free just as distracting as handheld mobile phone use behind the wheel
• New anode material set to boost lithium-ion battery capacity
• Scientists devise new method to give 'most robust' estimate of Maasai Mara lion numbers
• Supercomputer simulation reveals 2-D glass can go infinitely soft
• Study first to demonstrate role of parkin gene in eye lens free radical formation and cell survival
• Forming a second line of plant defense: Capturing disease-resistant DNA
• New wheat crops as an alternative to a gluten-free diet
• Drugs from nature: Big effects of multiple compounds in small amounts
• Bacterial 'sabotage' handicaps ability to resolve devastating lung inflammation in cystic fibrosis
• Biking in chicago is faster than public transportation, Uber, study finds
• Rare obesity syndrome therapeutic target identified
• Breast cancer update: Sentinel node biopsy guidelines encourage 'less is more' approach
• Mutations in life's 'essential genes' tied to autism
• Earthquake faults are smarter than we usually think
• Teen use of any illicit drug other than marijuana at new low, same true for alcohol
• Warming global temperatures may not affect carbon stored deep in northern peatlands
• Immunotherapy drug gives non-small-cell lung cancer patients extra four months of life with fewer side effects compared to chemotherapy
• Neonics are damaging bumblebees' vibes, study shows
• Yoga can have social benefits for children in care, says a new study
• New epilepsy gene network identified by scientists
• Skillful rescue robot with remote-control function
• New X-ray technique could improve bomb detection and breast cancer treatment
• Optical tractor beam traps bacteria
• Brain shrinkage in multiple sclerosis associated with leaked protein in blood
• Study offers approach to treating pain
• Young, thin and hyperactive: That's what outlier galaxies look like
• Promising approach for prognosis, treatment in mastocytosis

Study raises concern of significant under-reporting of child abuse within US Army Posted: 13 Dec 2016 01:11 PM PST Only 20 percent of medically diagnosed child abuse and neglect cases in US Army dependent children had a substantiated report with the Army's Family Advocacy Program, which investigates and treats child abuse. This rate is less than half of the rate of medically diagnosed child abuse cases substantiated by civilian Child Protective Services. Researchers say this contrast raises questions about the Army-reported rates of child abuse.

Studies of vulnerable populations get a 'bootstrapped' boost from statisticians Posted: 13 Dec 2016 01:11 PM PST Researchers report on a statistical approach called 'tree bootstrapping' can help social scientists study hard-to-reach populations like drug users.

Researchers identify biochemical mechanism behind a rare, painful genetic disease Posted: 13 Dec 2016 01:11 PM PST A team of researchers has uncovered a possible biochemical mechanism behind a rare, painful genetic disorder called ACDC disease, which causes calcium buildup in the arteries. The finding could lead to the first effective treatment for the potentially debilitating condition and might provide insight into other vascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, the researchers say.

Scientists unravel mechanism fueling growth of aggressive Rhabdoid tumors Posted: 13 Dec 2016 01:10 PM PST Rhabdoid tumors are among the most recalcitrant childhood cancers, and scientists have long sought ways to understand what drives their resilience and makes them impervious to treatment. Now researchers have uncovered a molecular chain of events that interferes with a key mechanism that regulates cell behavior and controls tumor formation.

Mars rock-ingredient stew seen as plus for habitability Posted: 13 Dec 2016 11:37 AM PST NASA's Curiosity rover is climbing a layered Martian mountain and finding evidence of how ancient lakes and wet underground environments changed, billions of years ago, creating more diverse chemical environments that affected their favorability for microbial life.

Researchers find bacterial protein that boosts insulin-producing cells in zebrafish Posted: 13 Dec 2016 10:06 AM PST A newly discovered bacterial protein produced in the zebrafish gut triggers insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas to multiply during early larval development, say researchers. The research potentially has human health implications. The findings, which could someday lead to new diabetes treatments, highlight the important role of resident microbes in development of the pancreas,

New technique switches key biomolecules on and off Posted: 13 Dec 2016 10:06 AM PST A new technique that will allow scientists to determine the effects of turning on and off a set of molecules involved in almost every cellular pathway, determine their downstream effects, and uncover new drug targets has been developed by researchers.

Eat and be eaten: Invasive scavengers in Hawaii alter island nutrient cycle Posted: 13 Dec 2016 10:05 AM PST Invasive species on Hawaii Island may be especially successful invaders because they are formidable scavengers of carcasses of other animals and after death, a nutrient resource for other invasive scavengers, say investigators.

Pessimists, you aren't alone in feeling down Posted: 13 Dec 2016 10:05 AM PST There are no differences between optimists and pessimists when it comes to potential bad news, suggests a new report.

Kelp beats the heat Posted: 13 Dec 2016 10:05 AM PST Using long-term ecological data, marine scientists evaluate the sentinel status of giant kelp during a recent marine heat wave.

Breakup of supercontinent Pangea cooled mantle and thinned crust Posted: 13 Dec 2016 10:05 AM PST The oceanic crust produced by the Earth today is significantly thinner than crust made 170 million years ago during the time of the supercontinent Pangea, according to researchers. The thinning is related to the cooling of Earth's interior prompted by the splitting of the supercontinent. The findings give a more nuanced view of the mantle temperature that influences tectonics on Earth.

Laboratory-on-a-chip technique simplifies detection of cancer DNA biomarkers Posted: 13 Dec 2016 09:53 AM PST Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S., making early, reliable diagnosis and treatment a priority. Miniaturized lab-on-chip approaches are prime candidates for developing viable diagnostic tests and instruments because they are small, need only limited test volumes, and can be cost-effective. Researchers have developed just such an approach capable of processing biomolecular samples from blood.

Therapy response in brain tumor cells is linked to disease prognosis Posted: 13 Dec 2016 09:51 AM PST The brain tumor form glioblastoma is difficult to treat and has very poor prognosis. In a new study, scientists show that a type of stem cell in the tumor is present in different states, with different response to drugs and radiation. The results may open an avenue towards development of new treatment strategies designed to reverse therapy resistant cell states to more sensitive states.

Women with more social connections have higher breast cancer survival, study shows Posted: 13 Dec 2016 08:50 AM PST In a large study of women with invasive breast cancer, socially integrated women -- those with the most social ties, such as spouses, community ties, friendships and family members -- were shown to have significantly lower breast cancer death rates and disease recurrence than socially isolated women.

American death rate from drugs, alcohol, and mental disorders nearly triples since 1980 Posted: 13 Dec 2016 08:32 AM PST A new study examines deaths in 21 cause groups, ranging from chronic illnesses like diabetes and other endocrine diseases, to infectious diseases, such as HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, to accidents, including traffic fatalities. It explores mortality rates and how they have changed in every US county between 1980 and 2014, creating the most comprehensive view to date of how Americans die.

Mutations acquired trans-Pacific may be key to changes in Zika severity Posted: 13 Dec 2016 08:32 AM PST Though Zika has been known for 70 years, in many ways the virus is still poorly understood. A new phylogenetic and geographic analysis of Zika's collected genetic sequences provides the most complete study of the virus's history to date. The analysis reveals indications of a surprisingly complex global background including an under-recorded ancestry in Asia. Further, the analysis identifies specific mutations in the Pacific transit that suggest possible explanations for Zika's recent virulence.

Feeling grateful? No, thanks Posted: 13 Dec 2016 08:32 AM PST Not everyone experiences gratitude in response to the generosity of others. This could have to do with an autonomous personal style. There's nothing wrong with autonomy. But to what extent could autonomy interfere with how gratitude helps relationships?

Scientists redefine horned dinosaur relationships by naming two new ceratopsian tribes Posted: 13 Dec 2016 08:32 AM PST Scientists identify two new tribes of ceratopsian dinosaurs based on distinctions in frill ornamentation. These two tribes employed different strategies and lived side-by-side in the Late Cretaceous in what is now western North America.

Salmon, blue mussel, eider, and eel die from the same vitamin deficiency Posted: 13 Dec 2016 08:32 AM PST Deficiency of vitamin B1 (thiamine) in wildlife is previously known as a problem among certain species within relatively limited geographical areas. Now, researchers show that the thiamine deficiency is far more widespread than previously realized.

Workplace fun is fundamental for learning on the job Posted: 13 Dec 2016 08:31 AM PST All work and no play may dull on-the-job learning at workplaces, according to a team of researchers.

Drug for narcolepsy could help food addicts lose weight Posted: 13 Dec 2016 08:19 AM PST Overweight people could be given help with the discovery that a drug used for sleep disorder could also reduce the impulse for food, report scientists.

Using herpes drugs to slow down Alzheimer's disease could become reality Posted: 13 Dec 2016 08:19 AM PST The first clinical study to investigate if herpes virus drugs can have an effect on fundamental Alzheimer's disease processes has been launched. The research group has previously demonstrated a correlation between herpes virus infection and an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Topical skin cream for treatment of basal cell carcinoma shows promise as an alternative to surgery Posted: 13 Dec 2016 08:19 AM PST For basal cell carcinoma, an initial treatment success has been realized with imiquimod, which appears to be sustained over a five-year period, report researchers.

Chemists uncover a means to control catalytic reactions Posted: 13 Dec 2016 06:31 AM PST Scientists have found a way to make catalysis more selective, breaking one chemical bond 100 times faster than another. The team of researchers employed a combination of experiment and theory to discover that the position of the molecule on the catalytic surface is a key factor in determining the rate at which particular bonds break.

Research unlocks clues to language-based learning in children Posted: 13 Dec 2016 06:31 AM PST One in five individuals are impacted by language-based learning disabilities -- one of the most common being dyslexia, which involves difficulty in reading or interpreting words, letters and other symbols. Now, a new study that focuses on typically learning children, has found a link between 'working memory' and how children learn. Researchers feel this discovery may later help educators uncover new ways to teach children with learning disabilities.

Faster (cheaper) method for making big bioactive ring molecules Posted: 13 Dec 2016 06:31 AM PST A pair of chemists has developed a faster, cheaper method for synthesizing ring molecules called cyclic depsipeptides found in antibiotics, anti-retrovirals and pesticides.

Squeezing life from DNA's double helix Posted: 13 Dec 2016 06:31 AM PST DNA replication begins when the double helix, caught in a vice of proteins, melts, scientists have discovered.

Cholesterol-fighting drugs lower risk of Alzheimer's disease Posted: 13 Dec 2016 06:31 AM PST Medicare patients who took statins for two years or more showed a reduced risk of the memory-robbing disease, a new study found.

Earth's magnetic fields could track ocean heat, study proposes Posted: 13 Dec 2016 06:31 AM PST As Earth warms, much of the extra heat is stored in the planet's ocean. Monitoring the magnitude of that heat content is difficult, but a surprising feature of the tides could help. Scientists are developing a new way to use satellite observations of magnetic fields to measure heat stored in the ocean.

Hands-free just as distracting as handheld mobile phone use behind the wheel Posted: 13 Dec 2016 06:31 AM PST Talking hands-free on a mobile phone while driving is just as distracting as a conversation using a hand-held phone, despite one being illegal and the other not, a road safety study has found.

New anode material set to boost lithium-ion battery capacity Posted: 13 Dec 2016 06:30 AM PST A team of researchers claims to have made yet another step towards finding a solution to accelerate the commercialization of silicon anode for Lithium-ion batteries.

Scientists devise new method to give 'most robust' estimate of Maasai Mara lion numbers Posted: 13 Dec 2016 06:30 AM PST Scientists have created a new method for counting lions that they say is the most robust yet devised. Using the Maasai Mara National Reserve and surrounding conservancies in Kenya as a case study, they estimate there to be 420 lions over the age of one in this key territory.

Supercomputer simulation reveals 2-D glass can go infinitely soft Posted: 13 Dec 2016 06:30 AM PST Scientists have found that the thermal motion of 2-D glass grows infinitely, which might possibly alter the mechanism of glass transition in low dimensions.

Study first to demonstrate role of parkin gene in eye lens free radical formation and cell survival Posted: 13 Dec 2016 06:24 AM PST A new study is the first to show that the Parkin gene is turned on when cells are exposed to environmental insults that cause free radical formation and cataract formation. Researchers have discovered that through the removal of mitochondria that are damaged by these environmental insults, Parkin prevents free radical formation in lens cells and increases the ability of the cells to survive exposure to conditions that are associated with aging and the development of many degenerative diseases.

Forming a second line of plant defense: Capturing disease-resistant DNA Posted: 13 Dec 2016 06:23 AM PST Scientists have developed a new improved method for capturing longer DNA fragments, doubling the size up to 7,000 DNA bases that can be analyzed for novel genes which provide plants with immunity to disease.

New wheat crops as an alternative to a gluten-free diet Posted: 13 Dec 2016 06:23 AM PST Wheat, one of the most widely consumed grains in the world, contains gluten, a mixture of proteins that can be toxic for people with celiac disease. A new study that analyzed the toxic components of these proteins in various varieties of wheat makes the first step forward towards developing wheat-based products that are safe for celiacs.

Drugs from nature: Big effects of multiple compounds in small amounts Posted: 13 Dec 2016 06:23 AM PST A research group has discovered a whole class of new peptides with which bacteria are able to kill insect larvae.

Bacterial 'sabotage' handicaps ability to resolve devastating lung inflammation in cystic fibrosis Posted: 13 Dec 2016 05:30 AM PST The chronic lung inflammation that is a hallmark of cystic fibrosis, has, for the first time, been linked to a new class of bacterial enzymes that hijack the patient's immune response and prevent the body from calling off runaway inflammation, according to a laboratory investigation.

Biking in chicago is faster than public transportation, Uber, study finds Posted: 13 Dec 2016 05:30 AM PST It is often faster to ride a bicycle through Chicago than to take an Uber or public transportation, find researchers. In a new study, researchers track the relative speed of bicycle travel, analyze the behavior of cyclists and recommend policy changes that would accommodate the growing popularity of cycling on city streets.

Rare obesity syndrome therapeutic target identified Posted: 13 Dec 2016 05:30 AM PST An enzyme deficiency in the brain is linked to Prader-Willi syndrome, a genetic condition that causes extreme hunger and severe obesity beginning in childhood, scientists have discovered.

Breast cancer update: Sentinel node biopsy guidelines encourage 'less is more' approach Posted: 13 Dec 2016 05:30 AM PST New recommendations from breast cancer experts on sentinel lymph node biopsy reinforce the most recent "less-is-more" guidelines for early-stage disease. But a researcher who helped create the guidelines said many surgeons still perform full lymph node dissection routinely.

Mutations in life's 'essential genes' tied to autism Posted: 13 Dec 2016 05:30 AM PST Genes known to be essential to life—the ones humans need to survive and thrive in the womb—also play a critical role in the development of autism spectrum disorder, suggests a new study

Earthquake faults are smarter than we usually think Posted: 13 Dec 2016 04:45 AM PST Researchers now have an answer to a vexing age-old question: Why do earthquakes sometimes come in clusters? The research team has developed a new computer model and discovered that earthquake faults are smarter -- in the sense of having better memory -- than seismologists have long assumed.

Teen use of any illicit drug other than marijuana at new low, same true for alcohol Posted: 13 Dec 2016 04:45 AM PST Teenagers' use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco declined significantly in 2016 at rates that are at their lowest since the 1990s, a new national study showed.

Warming global temperatures may not affect carbon stored deep in northern peatlands Posted: 13 Dec 2016 04:45 AM PST Deep stores of carbon in northern peatlands may be safe from rising temperatures, according to a team of researchers from several U.S.-based institutions.

Immunotherapy drug gives non-small-cell lung cancer patients extra four months of life with fewer side effects compared to chemotherapy Posted: 13 Dec 2016 04:43 AM PST Patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer survive four months longer with fewer side effects on an immunotherapy drug called atezolizumab compared to chemotherapy, according to a phase 3 clinical trial.

Neonics are damaging bumblebees' vibes, study shows Posted: 13 Dec 2016 04:43 AM PST Bumblebees' ability to produce the buzzing – or vibration – that enables them to pollinate key commercial food crops may be harmed by the controversial pesticides neonicotinoids, according to new research.

Yoga can have social benefits for children in care, says a new study Posted: 13 Dec 2016 04:43 AM PST A certain type of yoga could potentially help to improve the health and psychological wellbeing of children in care, a new study suggests.

New epilepsy gene network identified by scientists Posted: 13 Dec 2016 04:42 AM PST Scientists have discovered a gene network in the brain associated with epilepsy. The team believes the discovery may lead to more treatments for the condition.

Skillful rescue robot with remote-control function Posted: 13 Dec 2016 04:42 AM PST A group of researchers has developed a prototype construction robot for disaster relief situations. This prototype has drastically improved operability and mobility compared to conventional construction machines.

New X-ray technique could improve bomb detection and breast cancer treatment Posted: 13 Dec 2016 04:42 AM PST An exciting X-ray imaging technology has been successfully developed to the point where it is now ready for translation into all kinds of beneficial applications, including potentially life-saving uses in security and healthcare.

Optical tractor beam traps bacteria Posted: 13 Dec 2016 04:42 AM PST Up to now, if scientists wanted to study blood cells, algae, or bacteria under the microscope, they had to mount these cells on a substrate such as a glass slide. Physicists have now developed a method that traps biological cells with a laser beam enabling them to study them at very high resolutions. In science fiction books and films, the principle is known as the 'tractor beam'. Using this procedure, the physicists have obtained superresolution images of the DNA in single bacteria.

Brain shrinkage in multiple sclerosis associated with leaked protein in blood Posted: 13 Dec 2016 04:41 AM PST A leak of a protein called haemoglobin from damaged red blood cells may be associated with brain shrinkage in multiple sclerosis, report scientists.

Study offers approach to treating pain Posted: 13 Dec 2016 04:41 AM PST For many patients with chronic pain, any light touch – even just their clothes touching their skin – can be agony. Scientists have found a possible new avenue for producing painkillers that specifically treat this kind of pain. They discovered how the stiffness of our nerve cells influences sensitivity to touch and pain.

Young, thin and hyperactive: That's what outlier galaxies look like Posted: 13 Dec 2016 04:41 AM PST The more massive, or full of stars, a galaxy is, the faster the stars in it are formed. This seems to be the general rule, which is contradicted, however, by some abnormal cases, for example thin (not massive) galaxies that are hyperactive in their star formation. Until now the phenomenon had been explained by catastrophic external events like galaxies colliding and merging, but a new theory offers an alternative explanation, related to an in situ (internal) process of galaxy evolution.

Promising approach for prognosis, treatment in mastocytosis Posted: 13 Dec 2016 04:40 AM PST Systemic mastocytosis is a rare, incurable disease that affects approximately one in every 10,000 people. It is a haematological tumor disease, similar to leukemia, in which the bone marrow and other organs, such as the bowel, liver or spleen, are infiltrated by mast cells. In the animal model, researchers have now discovered a new prognostic and therapeutic approach that could at least help to prevent rapid progression of the disease.

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