ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Study shows nanoparticles could be used to overcome treatment-resistant breast cancer
• Plant's response to heat stress fluctuates between day and night
• Revolutions in understanding the ionosphere, Earth's interface to space
• New, complex call recorded in Mariana Trench believed to be from baleen whale
• Researchers work to improve the lifecycle of materials
• Runners' brains may be more connected, research shows
• Scientists investigate cancer radiotherapy to make improvements
• How hearing 'twist my arm' engages the brain
• How soil moisture can help predict power outages caused by hurricanes
• Early signs of Alzheimer's detected in cerebrospinal fluid
• The galloping evolution in seahorses
• Common breast cancer mutation could be vulnerable to drug combination
• New Zealand glowworms' sticky 'fishing lines' use moist, urea droplets to trap prey
• Southern elephant seals may adjust their diving behavior to stay in prey patches
• Zika antibodies from infected patient thwart infection in mice
• Newly formed stars shoot out powerful whirlwinds
• Partners play critical role in melanoma exams
• Researchers reveal how cancer can spread even before a tumor develops
• Infants show apparent awareness of ethnic differences
• Insectivorous long-fingered bats may also be capable of catching fish, should the opportunity arise
• Researchers add to evidence that common bacterial cause of gum disease may drive rheumatoid arthritis
• Cigar warnings: Do teens believe them?
• Engineers develop a new noninvasive method to detect infections in prostheses
• Technology communication: Worries through information?
• Scientists produce functional heart pacemaker cells
• Elusive half-quantum vortices in a superfluid
• Challenges in going from residential substance abuse treatment to the community
• Red cabbage microgreens lower 'bad' cholesterol in animal study
• Gesturing can boost children's creative thinking
• Predicting extinction, with the help of a Yule tree
• Switching to daylight saving time may lead to harsher legal sentences
• Krembil research prompts rethink on established vision recovery theory
• Creative approach to probing genome identifies genes that likely influence bone strength
• Making (sound) waves in the fight against cancer
• N-acetylcysteine shows early promise in reducing alcohol use in marijuana-dependent teens
• Celebrity chefs have poor food safety practices
• Aspirin slows spread of colon, pancreatic cancer in tumor cells
• Weight, body image misperception associated with alcohol use among teen girls
• Scientists sequence the genome of the Iberian lynx, the most endangered feline
• New way to trap dangerous gases
• Study highlights need for improved, stable eye screening for premature babies
• Skin cells 'crawl' together to heal wounds treated with unique hydrogel layer
• Quake-detection app captured nearly 400 temblors worldwide
• Fighting world hunger: Researchers use nuclear methods to study pest-resistance in corn
• People can control a robotic arm with only their minds
• Greater readiness repels cyber threats to manufacturers
• Nuclear Surfing: Protons have been observed 'catching a wave' on the surface of an atomic nucleus
• Two-pronged attack on infectious diseases
• Predicting suitable habitats for the Siberian flying squirrel in different felling scenarios
• Social choices: Follow one’s nose or one's eyes? It's a matter of age
• Gene transfer on the fungal highway
• Newly-revealed amino acid function could be used to boost antioxidant levels
• Anti-tumor effect of novel plasma medicine caused by lactate
• The hidden side of sulfur
• Turfgrass research focuses on irrigation efficiency, drought tolerance
• Scientists discover new bone-forming growth factor that reverses osteoporosis in mice
• Research identifies a molecular basis for common congenital brain defect
• Subtype of triple negative breast cancer responds better to chemotherapy
• Unexpected activity of two enzymes helps explain why liver cancer drugs fail
• Availability of community-based fitness classes leads to increased activity levels

Study shows nanoparticles could be used to overcome treatment-resistant breast cancer Posted: 14 Dec 2016 12:17 PM PST Researchers have been able to generate multifunctional RNA nanoparticles that could overcome treatment resistance in breast cancer, potentially making existing treatments more effective in these patients.

Plant's response to heat stress fluctuates between day and night Posted: 14 Dec 2016 12:16 PM PST Climate change and recent heat waves have put agricultural crops at risk, which means that understanding how plants respond to elevated temperatures is crucial for protecting our environment and food supply. For many plants, even a small increase in average temperature can profoundly affect their growth and development. New uncovers the system by which plants regulate their response to heat differently between daytime and nighttime.

Revolutions in understanding the ionosphere, Earth's interface to space Posted: 14 Dec 2016 12:16 PM PST Far above Earth's surface is a sea of particles that have been split into positive and negative ions by the suns harsh ultraviolet radiation called the ionosphere -- this is Earth's interface to space.

New, complex call recorded in Mariana Trench believed to be from baleen whale Posted: 14 Dec 2016 12:16 PM PST A sound in the Mariana Trench notable for its complexity and wide frequency range likely represents the discovery of a new baleen whale call, according to the researchers who recorded and analyzed it.

Researchers work to improve the lifecycle of materials Posted: 14 Dec 2016 12:16 PM PST In a sweeping perspective article, a trio of researchers reviews the field they pioneered more than a decade-and-a-half ago and look at the future of autonomous polymers.

Runners' brains may be more connected, research shows Posted: 14 Dec 2016 12:16 PM PST Runners' brains appear to have greater functional connectivity than non-runners' brains, according to new research. MRI scans show that running may affect the structure and function of the brain in ways similar to complex tasks such as playing a musical instrument.

Scientists investigate cancer radiotherapy to make improvements Posted: 14 Dec 2016 12:16 PM PST When tumors are treated with radiotherapy, the benefits can be hijacked by the treatment's counteraction to trigger inflammation and dampen the body's immune response, new research shows.

How hearing 'twist my arm' engages the brain Posted: 14 Dec 2016 12:16 PM PST Listening to metaphors involving arms or legs loops in a region of the brain responsible for visual perception of those body parts, scientists have discovered. More evidence for 'grounded cognition': the idea that comprehension of abstract concepts in the brain is built upon concrete experiences.

How soil moisture can help predict power outages caused by hurricanes Posted: 14 Dec 2016 12:16 PM PST In the days before Hurricane Matthew, researchers used satellite maps of soil moisture to help forecast where the power would go out along the East Coast. Now they report that their method worked with 91 percent accuracy.

Early signs of Alzheimer's detected in cerebrospinal fluid Posted: 14 Dec 2016 12:16 PM PST Little is known about the role of the brain's immune system in Alzheimer's disease. Researchers have now found an early immune response in individuals with a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's: their brain's showed abnormal immune reactions as early as about seven years before the expected onset of dementia.

The galloping evolution in seahorses Posted: 14 Dec 2016 12:16 PM PST A genome project, comprising six evolutionary biologists, have sequenced and analyzed the genome of the tiger tail seahorse.

Common breast cancer mutation could be vulnerable to drug combination Posted: 14 Dec 2016 12:16 PM PST Breast cancer cells that carry a certain gene mutation can be induced to die using a combination of an existing targeted therapy along with an investigational molecule tested by researchers.

New Zealand glowworms' sticky 'fishing lines' use moist, urea droplets to trap prey Posted: 14 Dec 2016 12:16 PM PST The sticky fishing lines produced by New Zealand glowworms to trap their insect prey are spaced with water-absorbent droplets containing urea, according to a new study.

Southern elephant seals may adjust their diving behavior to stay in prey patches Posted: 14 Dec 2016 12:16 PM PST When southern elephant seals find dense patches of prey, they dive and return to the surface at steeper angles, and are more sinuous at the bottom of a dive, according to a new study.

Zika antibodies from infected patient thwart infection in mice Posted: 14 Dec 2016 12:16 PM PST Researchers have identified neutralizing antibodies against Zika virus from an infected patient that fully protected mice from infection, adding to the current arsenal of antibodies in development for much needed antiviral therapies and vaccines.

Newly formed stars shoot out powerful whirlwinds Posted: 14 Dec 2016 12:15 PM PST Researchers have used the ALMA telescopes to observe the early stages in the formation of a new solar system. For the first time they have seen how a powerful whirlwind shoot out from the rotating disc of gas and dust surrounding the young star.

Partners play critical role in melanoma exams Posted: 14 Dec 2016 11:59 AM PST A new study shows the benefits of a partner frequently checking for troublesome moles based on training to do so far outweigh the embarrassment. Study participants who received skin examination training caught far more mole irregularities than those in the control group. They also grew more confident performing the examinations.

Researchers reveal how cancer can spread even before a tumor develops Posted: 14 Dec 2016 11:56 AM PST Researchers have solved the mystery of how deadly breast cancer metastasis forms even without a tumor present.

Infants show apparent awareness of ethnic differences Posted: 14 Dec 2016 11:56 AM PST New research findings help advance our understanding of social cognition and social development. Researchers studied 40 Hispanic infants and 37 non-Hispanic white infants, all 11 months old. The researchers showed them the faces of 18 young women they did not know on a computer screen. Recording the infants' eye movements with technology that can track where a viewer is looking, and for how long, the results showed that both Hispanic and white infants looked longer at African-American faces than Hispanic faces, longer at African-American faces than white faces and longer at Hispanic faces than white faces.

Insectivorous long-fingered bats may also be capable of catching fish, should the opportunity arise Posted: 14 Dec 2016 11:56 AM PST While most long-fingered bats eat only insects, they may all be instinctively able to also catch fish, according to a new study. Researchers suggest that experience and learning may help bats improve their fishing technique.

Researchers add to evidence that common bacterial cause of gum disease may drive rheumatoid arthritis Posted: 14 Dec 2016 11:56 AM PST New evidence suggests that a bacterium known to cause chronic inflammatory gum infections also triggers the inflammatory "autoimmune" response characteristic of chronic, joint-destroying rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The new findings have important implications for prevention and treatment of RA, say the researchers.

Cigar warnings: Do teens believe them? Posted: 14 Dec 2016 08:53 AM PST Significant differences exist in the believability of specific cigar warnings, suggesting that more work is needed to establish the best warnings to dissuade youth from smoking cigars.

Engineers develop a new noninvasive method to detect infections in prostheses Posted: 14 Dec 2016 08:51 AM PST Engineers have developed a new noninvasive method to detect infections in prostheses used for amputees, as well as for knee, hip and other joint replacements. The method, which is at the proof of concept stage, consists of a simple imaging technique and an innovative material to coat the prostheses.

Technology communication: Worries through information? Posted: 14 Dec 2016 08:51 AM PST In democratic societies, it is considered an obligation of researchers and politicians to inform the public about modern technologies and their potential risks. Researchers recently found that information about technologies and their risks may have undesired side effects. It may also cause worries where they do not seem appropriate.

Scientists produce functional heart pacemaker cells Posted: 14 Dec 2016 08:51 AM PST Scientists have developed the first functional pacemaker cells from human stem cells, paving the way for alternate, biological pacemaker therapy.

Elusive half-quantum vortices in a superfluid Posted: 14 Dec 2016 08:51 AM PST Researchers have discovered half-quantum vortices in superfluid helium. This vortex is a topological defect, exhibited in superfluids and superconductors, which carries a fixed amount of circulating current. These objects originally predicted to exist in superfluid helium in 1976. The discovery will provide access to the cores of half-quantum vortices, hosting isolated Majorana modes, exotic solitary particles. Understanding these modes is essential for the progress of quantum information processing, building a quantum computer.

Challenges in going from residential substance abuse treatment to the community Posted: 14 Dec 2016 08:51 AM PST Residential 'in-patient' treatment for substance abuse is a preferred option for those seeking to recover. However, relapse within the first year following discharge ranges from 37 percent to 56 percent. Engagement in aftercare improves this statistic; only about half use outpatient care, and even fewer stick with it. Researchers explored the factors that hinder and help individuals transition from long-term residential substance abuse treatment centers to the community.

Red cabbage microgreens lower 'bad' cholesterol in animal study Posted: 14 Dec 2016 08:51 AM PST Microgreens are sprouting up everywhere from upscale restaurants to home gardens. They help spruce up old recipes with intense flavors and colors, and are packed with nutrients. Now testing has shown that for mice on a high-fat diet, red cabbage microgreens helped lower their risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease and reduce their weight gain.

Gesturing can boost children's creative thinking Posted: 14 Dec 2016 08:51 AM PST Encouraging children to use gestures as they think can help them come up with more creative ideas, according to new research.

Predicting extinction, with the help of a Yule tree Posted: 14 Dec 2016 08:50 AM PST A new study shows how the present-day distribution of physical traits across species can help explain how the evolutionary process unfolded over time.

Switching to daylight saving time may lead to harsher legal sentences Posted: 14 Dec 2016 08:50 AM PST Judges in the United States tend to give defendants longer sentences the day after switching to daylight saving time compared with other days of the year, according to new research.

Krembil research prompts rethink on established vision recovery theory Posted: 14 Dec 2016 08:50 AM PST A new paper is expected to change the way scientists think about vision recovery after retinal cell transplantation.

Creative approach to probing genome identifies genes that likely influence bone strength Posted: 14 Dec 2016 08:50 AM PST In an important step in the battle against osteoporosis, a serious brittle bone disease that affects millions, researchers have identified more than a dozen genes amid the vast human genome likely responsible for bone density and strength.

Making (sound) waves in the fight against cancer Posted: 14 Dec 2016 08:50 AM PST A study describes the use of focused ultrasound along with particles called nanodroplets for the enhanced detection of cancer biomarkers in the blood. The researchers used the technique on tumors to cause extracellular vesicles to be released into the bloodstream, giving them large amounts of genetic material to analyze from drawing just a small sample of blood. They believe it could be an alternative to a biopsy for cancer diagnostics.

N-acetylcysteine shows early promise in reducing alcohol use in marijuana-dependent teens Posted: 14 Dec 2016 08:50 AM PST N-acetylcysteine (NAC) reduced alcohol use in a small cohort of marijuana-dependent adolescents who exhibited reductions in marijuana use, report researchers. In this secondary analysis of data from an earlier trial of NAC in marijuana-dependent adolescents, researchers show that reduced marijuana use was associated with reductions in alcohol consumption in the NAC-treated, but not placebo-treated teens.

Celebrity chefs have poor food safety practices Posted: 14 Dec 2016 07:07 AM PST Celebrity chefs are cooking up poor food safety habits, according to a new study by food safety experts.

Aspirin slows spread of colon, pancreatic cancer in tumor cells Posted: 14 Dec 2016 07:07 AM PST Aspirin may slow the spread of some types of colon and pancreatic cancer cells, investigators have found. Their study looks at the interaction between aspirin and blood platelets in cancer cells.

Weight, body image misperception associated with alcohol use among teen girls Posted: 14 Dec 2016 07:07 AM PST High school girls with body image behavioral misperceptions are more likely to have had at least one alcoholic drink, as well as engaged in episodes of heavy drinking, than their peers without these misperceptions.

Scientists sequence the genome of the Iberian lynx, the most endangered feline Posted: 14 Dec 2016 07:06 AM PST Genomic analysis of the Iberian lynx confirms that it is one of the species with the least genetic diversity among individuals, which means that it has little margin for adaptation. The research opens new pathways of research and conservation. The use of new genomic resources will contribute to optimizing management aimed at preserving the maximum genetic diversity.

New way to trap dangerous gases Posted: 14 Dec 2016 06:03 AM PST A team of researchers has developed a novel method for trapping potentially harmful gases within microscopic organo-metallic structures.

Study highlights need for improved, stable eye screening for premature babies Posted: 14 Dec 2016 06:03 AM PST A survey of neonatal intensive care unit medical directors shows it's getting difficult to make arrangements for premature babies to get their eyes screened by an ophthalmologist.

Skin cells 'crawl' together to heal wounds treated with unique hydrogel layer Posted: 14 Dec 2016 06:03 AM PST Scientist have demonstrated for the first time that their peptide-hydrogel biomaterial prompts skin cells to 'crawl' toward one another, closing chronic, non-healing wounds often associated with diabetes, such as bed sores and foot ulcers.

Quake-detection app captured nearly 400 temblors worldwide Posted: 14 Dec 2016 06:03 AM PST A crowdsourced earthquake network using Android phones and the MyShake app has since February 2016 detected nearly 400 temblors worldwide, with one of the most active areas of the world the oil-drilling areas of Oklahoma. The app, downloaded almost 220,000 times, has sent back seismic waveform data that allows quite accurate assessment of magnitude and location, suitable for early warming: one of the main goals of the project.

Fighting world hunger: Researchers use nuclear methods to study pest-resistance in corn Posted: 14 Dec 2016 06:03 AM PST Researchers using advanced nuclear methods, have determined the mechanisms corn plants use to combat the western corn rootworm, a major pest threatening the growth of the vital food source. Scientists believe that using the knowledge gained from these cutting-edge studies could help crop breeders in developing new resistant lines of corn and make significant strides toward solving global food shortages.

People can control a robotic arm with only their minds Posted: 14 Dec 2016 05:59 AM PST Researchers have made a major breakthrough that allows people to control a robotic arm using only their minds. The research has the potential to help millions of people who are paralyzed or have neurodegenerative diseases.

Greater readiness repels cyber threats to manufacturers Posted: 14 Dec 2016 05:58 AM PST Tailored solutions have been developed to bring improved cyber security and disruption-free operations to manufacturers. The results of the project will make companies more able to ward off possible cyber threats.

Nuclear Surfing: Protons have been observed 'catching a wave' on the surface of an atomic nucleus Posted: 14 Dec 2016 05:58 AM PST For surfers, it's not enough just to wait for the right wave: they still have to know how to catch it. As it turns out, one challenge faced by surfers also applies to protons. An experiment recently conducted by physicists provided new information on surfing taken to its absolute extreme: protons synchronizing their movement with the vibrations of atomic nuclei.

Two-pronged attack on infectious diseases Posted: 14 Dec 2016 05:58 AM PST A combination of two potential drugs gives hope of a 'super blockage' of an over-active immune system, researchers report. The breakthrough came from the crystallization of a membrane protein.

Predicting suitable habitats for the Siberian flying squirrel in different felling scenarios Posted: 14 Dec 2016 05:57 AM PST In support of forest-related decision-making, methods are needed which enable the assessment of potential impacts of forest management activities and the comparison of different forest policies. The amount of suitable habitat for the Siberian flying squirrel in the future was predicted in different felling scenarios using a Finnish large-scale forestry dynamics model.

Social choices: Follow one’s nose or one's eyes? It's a matter of age Posted: 14 Dec 2016 05:57 AM PST Psychologists and neuroscientists have thoroughly investigated olfactory behaviours in newborns and adults, but relatively little is known about the characteristics of the sense of smell during infancy and adolescence. In a new study, over 150 children aged 3 to 11 years old took part in a simple experiment allowing investigators to trace the curve of visuo-olfactory integration.

Gene transfer on the fungal highway Posted: 14 Dec 2016 05:57 AM PST Soil bacteria use the extensively branched, thread-like structures of fungi to move around and access new food sources. In a new study, researchers have been able to demonstrate that these so-called fungal hyphae also form a hot spot for gene transfer between bacteria. In this way, fungi ensure high bacterial diversity in the soil – which can also be beneficial for the degradation of pollutants.

Newly-revealed amino acid function could be used to boost antioxidant levels Posted: 14 Dec 2016 05:56 AM PST A Japanese research team has become the first in the world to discover that 2-aminobutyric acid (2-AB) is closely involved in the metabolic regulation of the antioxidant glutathione, and that it can effectively raise levels of glutathione in the body when ingested.

Anti-tumor effect of novel plasma medicine caused by lactate Posted: 14 Dec 2016 05:56 AM PST Researchers have developed cold plasma-activated Ringer's solution for chemotherapy. The solution has anti-tumor effects in vitro and in vivo that derive from the lactate component.

The hidden side of sulfur Posted: 14 Dec 2016 05:55 AM PST Synthetic organic chemistry consists of transforming existing molecules into new molecular structures or assemblies. These new molecular systems are then used in a myriad of ways in everyday life -- in a wide range of sectors, such as public health, energy and environment, for use in drugs, solar cells, fragrances, and so on. The active element in the molecule that initiates these transformations, known as the catalyst, is often hydrogen. However, a research team has found that a sulfur atom, if carefully inserted into a molecule, can not only become an extremely effective catalyst but can also operate with greater precision.

Turfgrass research focuses on irrigation efficiency, drought tolerance Posted: 13 Dec 2016 07:32 PM PST Subsurface drip irrigation is the newest method in turfgrass efficiency. Two projects will test these research findings: A subsurface drip irrigation system in several tee boxes at a golf course, and a city park, where a subsurface drip irrigation system has been installed on half of the park.

Scientists discover new bone-forming growth factor that reverses osteoporosis in mice Posted: 13 Dec 2016 07:32 PM PST A team of scientists has discovered a new bone-forming growth factor, Osteolectin (Clec11a), which reverses osteoporosis in mice and has implications for regenerative medicine.

Research identifies a molecular basis for common congenital brain defect Posted: 13 Dec 2016 07:32 PM PST A molecular cause of hydrocephalus, a common, potentially life-threatening birth defect in which the head is enlarged due to excess fluid surrounding the brain, has now been discovered by researchers. Because the same molecule is also implicated in Down's syndrome, the finding may explain the ten-fold increased risk of hydrocephalus in infants born with Down's.

Subtype of triple negative breast cancer responds better to chemotherapy Posted: 13 Dec 2016 02:52 PM PST Researchers have identified a new subtype of triple negative breast cancer that shows significantly improved response to chemotherapy. Patients with the newly defined subtype — BRCA-deficient triple negative breast cancer — had significantly higher survival rates with chemotherapy.

Unexpected activity of two enzymes helps explain why liver cancer drugs fail Posted: 13 Dec 2016 02:49 PM PST Researchers have discovered that lack of two types of enzymes can lead to liver disease and cancer in mice. In human liver tumors, they found that deficiencies in these two enzymes, Shp2 and Pten, are associated with poor prognosis. The study provides a new understanding of liver cancer development, new therapeutic approach and new mouse model for studying the disease.

Availability of community-based fitness classes leads to increased activity levels Posted: 13 Dec 2016 02:49 PM PST Physical inactivity is a global health problem that leads to approximately 3.2 million deaths each year, according to the World Health Organization. Researchers have found that a government-sponsored community activity program in Brazil is improving activity levels of women. The researchers believe the program could be scaled up and adapted to other communities around the world.

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