30 października 2014

Fwd: Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Oct 29


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From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Thu, Oct 30, 2014 at 1:38 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Oct 29
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>


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The use of simulation to design electrical systems, components, and devices is a practice that is quickly being adopted by the electrical engineering community. Learn more: http://goo.gl/ChB8za

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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 29, 2014:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Scientists make enzyme that could help explain origins of life
- Planet-forming lifeline discovered in a binary star system
- A new spin on virtual reality helps engineers read robots' minds
- Fairy wren embryos found able to discern between adult calls
- New solar power material converts 90 percent of captured light into heat
- Dozens of genes associated with autism in new research
- HaptoMime offers mid-air interaction system (w/ Video)
- Global infection outbreaks, unique diseases rising since 1980
- Scientists generate first human stomach tissue in lab with stem cells
- In autoimmune diseases, researchers pinpoint genetic risks, cellular culprits
- New way of genome editing cures hemophilia in mice; may be safer than older method
- Supply rocket headed to space station explodes (Update)
- New molecular imaging technology could improve bladder cancer detection
- Contamination likely explains 'food genes in blood' claim
- New study shows three abrupt pulse of carbon dioxide during last deglaciation

Astronomy & Space news

Planet-forming lifeline discovered in a binary star system

Scientists using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) have detected a streamer of dust and gas flowing from a massive outer disk toward the inner reaches of a binary star system. This never-before-seen feature may be responsible for sustaining a second, smaller disk of planet-forming material that otherwise would have disappeared long ago.

Supply rocket headed to space station explodes (Update)

An unmanned commercial supply rocket bound for the International Space Station exploded moments after liftoff Tuesday evening, with debris falling in flames over the launch site in Virginia. No injuries were reported following the first catastrophic launch in NASA's commercial spaceflight effort.

ChemCam sheds new light on Yellowknife Bay

New results from the Chemistry & Camera (ChemCam) instrument on NASA's Curiosity rover provide further details about the ancient environment of Yellowknife Bay on Mars. Using data from ChemCam, as well as images from Mastcam and the ChemCam/Remote Micro imager, scientists have identified materials that were likely formed by precipitation from fluids.

Existence of a group of 'quiet' quasars confirmed

Aeons ago, the universe was different: mergers of galaxies were common and gigantic black holes with masses equivalent to billions of times that of the Sun formed in their nuclei. As they captured the surrounding gas, these black holes emitted energy. Known as quasars, these very distant and tremendously high energy objects have local relatives with much lower energy whose existence raises numerous questions: are there also such "quiet" quasars at much larger distances? Are the latter dying versions of the former or are they completely different?

A look back at catastrophic space flights

An unmanned commercial supply ship bound for the International Space Station exploded moments after liftoff from a launch pad at Wallops Island, Virginia, Tuesday evening, with debris falling in flames over the launch site.

Russia offers US space station help after rocket explodes

Russia on Wednesday offered to help the United States with deliveries to the International Space Station after an unmanned American supply rocket exploded on lift-off.

Video: Launching origami into space

Most people who know of origami think of it as the Japanese art of paper folding. Though it began centuries ago, origami became better known to the world in the 20th century when it evolved into a modern art form.

100,000 ice blocks mapped out at the south pole of Enceladus

Ever since the Cassini space probe conducted its first flyby of Enceladus in 2005, the strange Saturnian moon has provided us with a treasure trove of images and scientific wonders. These include the jets of icy water vapor periodically bursting from its south pole, the possibility of an interior ocean – which may even harbor life – and the strange green-blue stripes located around the south pole.

China's lunar test spacecraft takes incredible picture of Earth and Moon together

The Chinese lunar test mission Chang'e 5T1 has sent back some amazing and unique views of the Moon's far side, with the Earth joining in for a cameo in the image above. According to the crew at UnmannedSpaceflight.com the images were taken with the spacecraft's solar array monitoring camera.

Comet K1 PanSTARRS

Comet C/2012 K1 PanSTARRS, one of the most dependable comets of 2014, may put on its encore performance over the coming weeks for southern hemisphere observers.

Astronomy & Astrophysics: Planck 2013 results

Astronomy & Astrophysics is publishing a special feature of 31 articles describing the data gathered by Planck over 15 months of observations and released by ESA and the Planck Collaboration in March 2013. This series of papers presents the initial scientific results extracted from this first Planck dataset.

Russians deliver space station cargo after US flop

Just hours after an American cargo run to the International Space Station ended in flames, a Russian supply ship has arrived at the station with a load of fresh supplies.

Cause sought for space-supply rocket explosion

NASA and officials from a commercial rocket company are searching for debris and answers following the explosion of a rocket and cargo module that were to deliver supplies to astronauts aboard the International Space Station.

Rocket failure casts spotlight on risks of space flight

The explosion of a privately owned rocket on its way toward the International Space Station cast a spotlight on the risks involved with NASA's reliance on the fledgling commercial space industry, experts said Wednesday.

What is Orbital Sciences?

NASA pays it billions. Its rockets sport mythical names like Minotaur and Pegasus. And its $2 billion deal to resupply the International Space Station had gone well—until this week.

Russian rocket engines suspected in launch blast

Crews searched for scorched wreckage along the Virginia coast Wednesday in hopes of determining why an unmanned commercial rocket exploded in a blow to NASA's strategy of using private companies to send supplies and, eventually, astronauts to the International Space Station.

ESA image: Samantha Cristoforetti wearing her Sokol spacesuit

ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti putting on her Sokol pressure suit at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Russia while preparing for her six-month Futura mission to the International Space Station.

NASA seeks proposals to develop capabilities for deep space exploration, journey to Mars

NASA is soliciting proposals for concept studies or technology development projects that will be necessary to enable human pioneers to go to deep space destinations such as an asteroid and Mars.

Medicine & Health news

Global infection outbreaks, unique diseases rising since 1980

Enterovirus. Tuberculosis. Cholera. Measles. Various strains of the flu and hepatitis. The number of infectious disease outbreaks and the number of unique illnesses causing them appear to be increasing around the globe, according to a new Brown University analysis of more than 12,000 outbreaks affecting 44 million people worldwide over the last 33 years.

Dozens of genes associated with autism in new research

Two major genetic studies of autism, led in part by UC San Francisco scientists and involving more than 50 laboratories worldwide, have newly implicated dozens of genes in the disorder. The research shows that rare mutations in these genes affect communication networks in the brain and compromise fundamental biological mechanisms that govern whether, when, and how genes are activated overall.

Study finds brain abnormalities in chronic fatigue patients

An imaging study by Stanford University School of Medicine investigators has found distinct differences between the brains of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and those of healthy people.

Study reveals connection between kidney cancer and the use of aristolochic acid

A new study on a large cohort of kidney cancer patients in Europe sheds light on the genetic architecture of the disease—and reveals an apparent link between exposure to aristolochic acid and incidence of kidney cancer, particularly in Romania.

Girls under stress age more rapidly, new study reveals

(Medical Xpress)—Stress takes a toll on both mind and body. Intuitively, that's not a big surprise. Many studies have found links among stress, depression and disease. But scientists didn't really know which came first: stress, depression or changes in the body.

Using hypnosis to understand symptoms of disorders of thought

Researchers from the Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science Department at King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) have identified a key region of the brain that gives us the sense that we control our own thoughts and movements.

Scientists generate first human stomach tissue in lab with stem cells

Scientists used pluripotent stem cells to generate functional, three-dimensional human stomach tissue in a laboratory – creating an unprecedented tool for researching the development and diseases of an organ central to several public health crises, ranging from cancer to diabetes.

In autoimmune diseases, researchers pinpoint genetic risks, cellular culprits

Scores of autoimmune diseases afflicting one in 12 Americans—ranging from type 1 diabetes, to multiple sclerosis (MS), to rheumatoid arthritis, to asthma—mysteriously cause the immune system to harm tissues within our own bodies. Now, a new study pinpoints the complex genetic origins for many of these diseases, a discovery that may lead to better diagnosis and ultimately to improved treatments.

New molecular imaging technology could improve bladder cancer detection

Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have developed a new strategy that they say could detect bladder cancer with more accuracy and sensitivity than standard endoscopy methods. Endoscopy refers to a procedure in which surgeons use an instrument equipped with a lens to see inside the patient.

New way of genome editing cures hemophilia in mice; may be safer than older method

The ability to pop a working copy of a faulty gene into a patient's genome is a tantalizing goal for many clinicians treating genetic diseases. Now, researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have devised a new way to carry out this genetic sleight of hand.

Prostate cancer medications linked with increased risk of heart-related deaths in men with cardiovascular problems

A new study has found that certain prostate cancer medications are linked with an increased risk of dying from heart-related causes in men with congestive heart failure or prior heart attacks. Published in BJU International, the findings will help doctors and patients weigh the benefits and risks of the drugs.

Diets high in fruit, vegetables, whole grains and nuts among factors to lower first-time stroke risk

Eating Mediterranean or DASH-style diets, regularly engaging in physical activity and keeping your blood pressure under control can lower your risk of a first-time stroke, according to updated AHA/ASA guideline published in the American Heart Association's journal Stroke.

ECG on the run: Continuous ECG surveillance of marathon athletes is feasible

The condition of an athlete's heart has for the first time been accurately monitored throughout the duration of a marathon race. The real-time monitoring was achieved by continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) surveillance and data transfer over the public mobile phone network to a telemedicine centre along the marathon route. This new development in cardiac testing in endurance athletes, said investigators, "would allow instantaneous diagnosis of potentially fatal rhythm disorders".

Neglect of culture in medicine is 'single biggest barrier' to achieving better health

The systematic neglect of culture is the single biggest barrier to advancing the highest attainable standard of health worldwide, say the authors of a major new report on culture and health, led by Professor David Napier, a leading medical anthropologist from University College London (UCL), UK, and published in The Lancet.

MERS still 'significant' threat to Saudi

The deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) remains a significant threat to Saudi Arabia, the health ministry said on Tuesday after a series of cases in the western city of Taif.

Poor access to general surgeons increases the risk of ruptured appendix for young children

Delayed treatment for appendicitis can often lead to a ruptured appendix. That's exactly what is more likely to happen to many children in North Carolina if they have to delay getting treatment because of poor access to general surgeons, according to new study findings presented this week at the American College of Surgeons 2014 Clinical Congress.

TB-diabetes co-epidemic looms, experts warn

A report warned Wednesday of a looming tuberculosis-diabetes epidemic as the two diseases intertwine in many countries, driven in part by a rise in unhealthy lifestyles.

Using sensors to monitor dangerous hits on football field

In football, a tackle can supply 100 G's of force or more, well above the amount that can cause a concussion and more than 10 times the force of an F-16 jet roll maneuver. Now, University of Florida Health researchers are using the helmets of Gator football players to help measure the force of on-field hits as part of ongoing efforts to better understand and prevent concussions and treat them before they cause lasting damage.

Antidepressants may be no better than a placebo, so why take them?

Seventeenth-century Oxford scholar Robert Burton's lifework, The Anatomy of Melancholy, weighs in at a door-stopping 1,400 pages. But his cure for the "Black Choler" of depression came down to just six words: "Be not solitary, be not idle." Writing today, he might add: "And maybe take a placebo."

Blood test developed to diagnose early onset Alzheimer's disease

A non-invasive blood test that could diagnose early onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) with increased accuracy has been developed by University of Melbourne researchers.

Poop color screening could prevent infant deaths, avert liver transplants and lower treatment costs

Paying attention to the color of a newborn's poop can mean the difference between life and death for babies with the rare liver disorder biliary atresia—the leading cause of liver transplants in children. The disease is almost universally heralded by white or clay-colored stools but is often diagnosed with woeful delays.

Genome sequenced of enterovirus D68 circulating in St. Louis

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have sequenced the genome of enterovirus D68 sampled from patients treated at St. Louis Children's Hospital. Nationwide, the virus has spread rapidly in recent months and caused severe respiratory illness in young children, with some patients requiring hospitalization.

Oral contraception may become renewed option for HIV-positive women

Contrary to guidelines issued by the World Health Organization, new research has found that HIV-positive women receiving one of the most common forms of drug therapy should be able to use at least some forms of oral contraceptives for birth control.

Breathlessness support leads to better quality of life and survival

A low-cost Breathlessness Support Service (BSS) led to better quality of life and survival rates for patients with lung disease and cancer, according to a study by a team of researchers at King's College London and clinicians from King's College Hospital.

'Abandoned' stroke survivors need better longer-term care, expert says

Stroke patients need better long-term support to ensure their health and social care needs are met and prevent them feeling "abandoned", a University of Leeds expert says.

Integrins losing their grip drive activate T cell immune responses

When integrins let go of their ligands and the actin cytoskeleton inside the dendritic cell, the activity of another cell surface receptor, the GM-CSF receptor, rises. This increased signaling induces the dendritic cells to head to lymph nodes to activate T cells.

Low social position explains link between lack of money and poor health

People with low incomes are more prone to ill health due to the stress associated with their social position rather than their lack of money, according to researchers at the University of Stirling.

Health care shortfalls for LGBT young women

Young sexual minority women, including those identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT), were found to have higher elevated odds of adverse health conditions than heterosexual young women and lower odds of receiving a physical or dental examination. The results from a new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine highlight the multidimensionality of sexual minority status and call for greater understanding of the health needs of LGBT youth.

Sonic Hedgehog protein causes DNA damage and the development of child brain tumours

Scientists at the IRCM and the University of Montreal discovered a mechanism that promotes the progression of medulloblastoma, the most common brain tumour found in children. The team, led by Frédéric Charron, PhD, found that a protein known as Sonic Hedgehog induces DNA damage, which causes the cancer to develop. This important breakthrough will be published in the October 13 issue of the prestigious scientific journal Developmental Cell. The editors also selected the article to be featured on the journal's cover.

Purdue-based startup shines light on heart disease severity, location

Officials at a life sciences startup based on a Purdue University innovation say their company could help cardiologists improve the diagnosis of heart disease, which the World Health Organization listed as the leading cause of death in the world in 2012.

Does having children make us any happier?

The birth of a first and a second child briefly increases the level of their parents' happiness, but a third does not, according to new research from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and Western University, Canada.

Genetic link to kidney stones identified

A new breakthrough could help kidney stone sufferers get an exact diagnosis and specific treatment after genetic links to the condition were identified.

Higher suicide risk after served prison sentence

People who have been in prison run a higher risk of committing suicide; 18 times that of the general population. By far the highest risk of suicide comes in the first months after release and among individuals with a history of substance abuse and previous suicide attempts. These are the findings of a register study conducted by researchers from Karolinska Institutet, being published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

Unhappiness with hometown causes one in five youths to take up smoking and drinking

Unhappiness with the place they live in is causing young people to turn to smoking and drinking, according to a new study just published, according to research carried out at Heriot-Watt University.

Ghrelin stimulates an appetite for drinking alcohol

Ghrelin is a hormone released by the stomach and it stimulates appetite and food intake. Alcohol is commonly viewed as a psychoactive substance that primarily affects brain function, but it is also a highly caloric food.

Where you live doesn't matter if you have heart disease, study finds

People living in rural areas are at no greater risk of dying from heart disease than their urban counterparts, according to a new study by researchers at Women's College Hospital and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES).

Universal helmet laws may help save young motorcyclists

(HealthDay)—A new study suggests that state laws requiring "universal" motorcycle helmet use—instead of helmet laws just for certain ages—may lower the rates of traumatic brain injuries in young riders.

New technology shows promise for delivery of therapeutics to the brain

A new technology that may assist in the treatment of brain cancer and other neurological diseases is the subject of an article in a recent issue of the journal Technology.

Aortic valve replacement appears safe, effective in very elderly patients

Aortic valve replacement (AVR) can safely be used to treat severe aortic stenosis in patients age 90 years and older and is associated with a low risk of operative stroke and mortality, according to a study in the November 2014 issue of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.

Can social media help stop the spread of HIV?

In addition to providing other potential benefits to public health, all of those tweets and Facebook posts could help curb the spread of HIV.

Maasai of Tanzania facing severe food insecurity and chronic child malnourishment

In the first in-depth study of its kind of the Maasai people of Tanzania, research led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine has revealed that the health of Maasai children is very poor compared to other ethnic groups.

To reap the brain benefits of physical activity, just get moving

Everyone knows that exercise makes you feel more mentally alert at any age. But do you need to follow a specific training program to improve your cognitive function? Science has shown that the important thing is to just get moving. It's that simple. In fact, this was the finding of a study conducted at the Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal (IUGM), an institution affiliated with Université de Montréal, by Dr. Nicolas Berryman, PhD, Exercise Physiologist, under the supervision of Dr. Louis Bherer, PhD, and Dr. Laurent Bosquet, PhD, that was published in the journal Age (American Aging Association) in October.

US health care unprepared for Ebola

The U.S. health care apparatus is so unprepared and short on resources to deal with the deadly Ebola virus that even small clusters of cases could overwhelm parts of the system, according to an Associated Press review of readiness at hospitals and other components of the emergency medical network.

Walking workstations improve physical and mental health, builds healthier workplace

Walking workstations can improve not only physical, but also mental health during the workday, a new study released this week found. The research was conducted by faculty and student researchers from the Department of Psychology in the School of Science at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI).

Decades of research: Effectiveness of phone counseling for cancer patients still unknown

Increasingly, cancer care respects the fact that a patient's body is only part of the system that requires treatment. Over a third of cancer patients experience psychosocial distress – the mental health consequences of their conditions. And, increasingly, care providers are exploring phone- and internet-based interventions to help cancer patients navigate mental health challenges. A University of Colorado Cancer Center study recently published in the journal Psycho-Oncology asks an important question: after decades of use and study, can we definitely show that remote interventions improve psychosocial outcomes in cancer survivors, or might there be a required, in-person component of these interventions?

EEG test to help understand and treat schizophrenia

Researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have validated an EEG test to study and treat schizophrenia. The findings, published in two separate studies, offer a clinical test that could be used to help diagnose persons at risk for developing mental illness later in life, as well as an approach for measuring the efficacies of different treatment options.

New technology on the way to aid cancer suffers who lose their hair after chemotherapy

Cancer suffers who lose their hair as a consequence of chemotherapy will benefit from a major research project that will improve the scalp cooling technology that prevents hair loss.

Penn vet professor investigates parasite-schizophrenia connection

Many factors, both genetic and environmental, have been blamed for increasing the risk of a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Some, such as a family history of schizophrenia, are widely accepted. Others, such as infection with Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite transmitted by soil, undercooked meat and cat feces, are still viewed with skepticism.

Changes in scores of genes contribute to autism risk

Small differences in as many as a thousand genes contribute to risk for autism, according to a study led by Mount Sinai researchers and the Autism Sequencing Consortium (ASC), and published today in the journal Nature.

Study identifies potential treatment target for cocaine addiction

A study led by investigators from Massachusetts General Hospital and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania has identified a potential target for therapies to treat cocaine addiction. In their study receiving advance online publication in Molecular Psychiatry, the investigators find evidence that changing one amino acid in a subunit of an important receptor protein alters whether cocaine-experienced animals will resume drug seeking after a period of cocaine abstinence. Increasing expression of the enzyme responsible for that change within the GluA2 subunits of AMPA receptors – which receive nerve impulses carried by the neurotransmitter glutamate – reduced cocaine seeking in animals allowed to self-administer the drug.

Hearing loss in one infant twin affects mother's speech to both babies

Is it possible that hearing loss in one infant from a pair of twins can affect the mother's speech to both infants? A new acoustics study zeroes in on this question and suggests that not only is this alteration of speech entirely possible, but that mothers speak to both infants as if they are hearing impaired.

Low-carb, high-fat diets may reduce seizures in tough-to-treat epilepsy

Diets high in fat and low in carbohydrates, such as the ketogenic or modified Atkins diet, may reduce seizures in adults with tough-to-treat epilepsy, according to a review of the research published in the October 29, 2014, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Survival rates in pediatric umbilical cord transplants may indicate a new standard of care

A new standard of care for children facing acute myeloid leukemia (AML) may be clear, following a multi-year study published in the latest edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.

More attention to measles, vaccine experts urge

Doctors and public health authorities need to renew their attention to measles, researchers from Emory Vaccine Center urge in an editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Rolling back school nutrition standards would threaten progress against childhood obesity

Efforts to roll back current nutritional standards for the National School Lunch Program could jeopardize gains made in the fight against childhood obesity, write the authors of an article that will appear in the November 13 New England Journal of Medicine and has been released online. The Perspectives article by two MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGHfC)-affiliated pediatricians addresses the claims raised by opponents of the current standards and stresses the standards' importance for maintaining the progress that has been made to improve the quality of school meals.

Polls show deep partisan divide over Affordable Care Act

A comprehensive analysis of data from 27 public opinion polls conducted by 14 organizations, including a poll in September of those most likely to vote, shows an electorate polarized by political party when it comes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). A majority of Republican likely voters want the next Congress to repeal the law (56%), with an additional 27% favoring scaling it back. In contrast, a majority of Democratic voters want the new Congress to move ahead with the law (74%), either by implementing the current law (30%) or expanding its scope (44%). Independent likely voters fall in between, with 34% favoring repealing the law, 27% scaling it back, 8% implementing the current law, and 26% expanding it (Chart 1).

Affordable Care Act Medicare payment reforms improve patient experiences

Beneficiaries enrolled in Accountable Care Organizations, a payment model that allows provider groups to share in the savings when they reduce Medicare patient spending and improve quality of care, reported improved satisfaction with their care in the first year of the program.

Four years in, payment model lowers medical spending, improves care

A new study suggests that a plan that uses global budgets for health care, an alternative to the traditional fee-for-service model of reimbursement, has improved the quality of patient care and lowered costs during the four years since it was first implemented.

Engineers develop novel ultrasound technology to screen for heart conditions

Engineers at the University of California, San Diego have determined for the first time the impact of a ring-shaped vortex on transporting blood flow in normal and abnormal ventricles within the human heart. They worked with cardiologists at the Non-Invasive Cardiology Laboratory at Gregorio Marañon Hospital, in Madrid, Spain.

Innovative study using video games shows sleep apnea may affect memory of everyday events

Sleep apnea may affect your ability to form new spatial memories, such as remembering where you parked your car, new research led by NYU Langone Medical Center sleep specialists suggests.

FDA approves vaccine to block meningitis strain (Update)

Federal health regulators have approved the first vaccine to block a strain of bacteria that has caused sometimes deadly outbreaks of meningitis in college dormitories.

Study compares gastric bypass procedures in weight loss, complications

In a study of two of the most commonly performed bariatric surgery procedures, laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) resulted in much greater weight loss than adjustable gastric banding (AGB) but had a higher risk of short-term complications and long-term subsequent hospitalizations, according to a report published online by JAMA Surgery.

Adult eczema may be unrecognized risk factor for fracture, other injuries

Adults with eczema had a higher prevalence of fracture and bone or joint injury (FBJI), as well as other types of injury-causing limitations, in a nationally representative sample of patients with a history of the chronic inflammatory disorder that can cause skin itching and result in sleep disturbance, according to a study published online by JAMA Dermatology.

Study examines availability of tanning beds on and near college campuses

Among the top 125 colleges on a list compiled by U.S. News & World Report, 48 percent have indoor tanning facilities either on campus or in off-campus housing despite evidence that tanning is a risk factor for skin cancer, according to a study published online by JAMA Dermatology.

Strong bonds with pets may help foster resiliency in military-connected children

Developing resiliency has important benefits for children, especially those from military families faced with significant challenges such as parental deployment and frequent moves. New research published online in Applied Developmental Science supports the idea that, along with other key resources, strong attachments to animals may help military-connected children develop resiliency and other positive developmental traits.

Noneconomic damages caps cut malpractice payments by 15 percent

(HealthDay)—Adoption of noneconomic damages caps reduces average malpractice payments by 15 percent, according to research published in the October issue of Health Affairs.

Frequent readmissions, high costs after cardiac arrest

(HealthDay)—Frequent readmissions and high inpatient costs are seen among older survivors of in-hospital cardiac arrest, according to a study published online Oct. 28 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

Vitamin D may not prevent return of vaginosis after all

(HealthDay)—A new study suggests that high doses of vitamin D may not help prevent the return of bacterial vaginosis (BV). The research was published in the November issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

FDA cautions against 'undeclared' food allergens

(HealthDay)—Some food labels may not reliably list all possible food allergens, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency added that these "undeclared allergens" are the leading cause of FDA-requested food recalls.

Mortality risk higher in normal-weight diabetes patients

(HealthDay)—In older adults with type 2 diabetes, muscle size may mediate the association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality, according to research published online Oct. 14 in Diabetes Care.

Ankle, knee strength generation slower with diabetic neuropathy

(HealthDay)—When walking up and down stairs, patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) are slower at generating strength at the ankle and knee compared to control participants, which may increase the risk of falls, according to a study published online Oct. 14 in Diabetes Care.

Researchers aim to simplify life saving drug

Heparin, the life saving blood thinner used in major surgeries and treatment of heart diseases, is a complicated drug but a research team from the University of British Columbia has set out to make its use a lot safer by developing a universal antidote.

Obama, Red Cross see progress in Ebola battle

US President Barack Obama and the Red Cross have offered hope that the battle against the deadly West African Ebola outbreak is being won, amid a dramatic drop in bodies collected in Liberia's capital.

New frailty test predicts risk of poor outcomes in elderly patients

A simplified frailty index created by surgeons at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, Mich., is a reliable tool for assessing risk of mortality and serious complications in older patients considering total hip and knee replacement procedures, according to new study findings presented today at the 2014 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons.

Sandy's mental health impact looms large

Two years after Superstorm Sandy, New York and New Jersey residents are still dealing with mental health issues from the storm.

Sanofi ousts CEO over management style, sales drop

French drugmaker Sanofi sacked its CEO Wednesday following a board room rift over his way of handling one of France's largest publicly traded companies.

Prenatal phthalate exposures and anogenital distance in Swedish boys

The first study to examine prenatal exposure to the phthalate DiNP finds it is associated with a shorter anogenital distance (AGD) in Swedish boys at the age of 21 months.  These findings raise concern since animal research has linked DiNP exposure to a shorter AGD, and studies on humans have related shorter AGD to male genital birth defects as well as impaired reproductive function in adult males, and the levels of DiNP metabolites in humans are increasing globally.  

Why skin cells are skin cells and not neurons

A good helping of Carl Sagan and David Attenborough got me interested in science and the natural world as a child.

Largest ever dataset of causes of death

About two thirds of deaths worldwide are not recorded. A network of hundreds of health and population researchers hopes to change this with a new dataset of 110 000 deaths recorded over two decades in low- and middle-income populations across Africa and South-East Asia.

Improved risk communication during infectious disease crises

As cases of the Ebola disease emerge in Europe, the crisis is gaining increasing levels of media coverage. Certain types of coverage can foster fear and stigmatisation which leads to harmful consequences for the individuals, communities and countries involved. Therefore communication strategies that maximise opportunities and minimise risks are vital. That's why the TELL ME ('Transparent communication in Epidemics: Learning Lessons from experience, delivering effective Messages, providing Evidence') project is working to develop models for improved risk communication during infectious disease crises.

Women who took part in VOICE speak up about why they didn't use HIV prevention products

Many of the women at first acted surprised. Some insisted the blood tests were wrong. But most conveyed to researchers why they had not used the study products assigned to them as participants in VOICE, a large HIV prevention trial that, as a likely consequence, did not find any of the three products that were tested to be effective.

Researchers to study cause of obesity-related inflammation

Not all fat is made the same. Scientists have observed that fat cells in an obese person produce more molecules called adipokines, which catch the attention of the body's immune system, causing them to invade fatty tissues.

Support for fecal testing in familial colorectal cancer screening

Fecal immunochemical tests (FIT) may be as effective as colonoscopies when it comes to detecting colorectal cancer among first-degree relatives of patients with colorectal cancer, according to a new study in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association.

Tourism as a driver of illicit drug use, HIV risk in the DR

The Caribbean has the second highest global human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence in the world outside of Sub-Saharan Africa, with HIV/AIDS as leading cause of death among people aged 20–59 years within the region. Particularly hard-hit are the Dominican Republic (DR) and Haiti, on the island of Hispaniola, accounting for approximately 70% of all people living with HIV in the Caribbean region.

WHO: Ebola decline in Liberia could be real trend

The rate of new Ebola infections in Liberia appears to be declining and could represent a genuine trend, the World Health Organization said Wednesday, but the epidemic is far from over.

Expert questions US quarantine's efficacy and fairness

The enforced quarantine of a nurse has sparked a debate in the United States over what should be done with people who have been in contact with Ebola patients, but show no symptoms themselves.

First marijuana planted for medical use in Chile (Update)

A Chilean municipality planted the country's first medical marijuana on Wednesday as part of a pilot program aimed to help ease the pain of cancer patients.

Health care overhaul doubts ease for insurers

What a difference a year makes. The nation's biggest health insurers entered last fall cautious about a major coverage expansion initiated by the health care overhaul, the federal law that aims to cover millions of uninsured people.

Better radiologist performance on own recalled screens

(HealthDay)—Radiologists' screening performance improves with work-up of their own recalled screening mammograms, according to a study published in the November issue of Radiology.

California announces Ebola quarantine rules

California announced new quarantine guidelines Wednesday for people arriving in the western state deemed to pose a risk of spreading Ebola.

Study: Young people more likely to survive Ebola

A new study gives fresh knowledge about who survives Ebola and why. The report by 47 health workers treating patients in Sierra Leone in West Africa is the most detailed description yet of the medical aspects of the current epidemic.


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