sobota, 13 września 2014

Fwd: Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Sep 10


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Thu, Sep 11, 2014 at 2:36 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Sep 10
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>


Manager's Guide 2014 -- Productivity and Innovation Through Multiphysics

This exciting new resource highlights the many important benefits to incorporating multiphysics simulation in your product design workflow. View online or download to learn more: http://goo.gl/XIgDSE

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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for September 10, 2014:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Three extinct squirrel-like species discovery supports earlier origin of mammals in late Triassic
- Physicists build first 500 GHz photon switch
- Researchers achieve highest resolution ever with X-ray microscopy
- Graphene gets a 'cousin' in the shape of germanene
- 50 million year old mite attached to ant head found in piece of amber
- When spikes collide: Shaking the foundation of neuroscience
- Gibbon genome sequence deepens understanding of primates rapid chromosomal rearrangements
- Mysterious quasar sequence explained
- Blocking one receptor could halt rheumatoid arthritis
- Residual hydraulic fracturing water not a risk to groundwater, study says
- Non-dominant hand vital to the evolution of the thumb
- Mars rover Opportunity's vista includes long tracks
- Making travel quick, safe for cars, bikes, walkers
- Research identifies drivers of rich bird biodiversity in Neotropics
- Neuroscientists decode brain maps to discover how we take aim

Astronomy & Space news

Mysterious quasar sequence explained

Quasars are supermassive black holes that live at the center of distant massive galaxies. They shine as the most luminous beacons in the sky across the entire electromagnetic spectrum by rapidly accreting matter into their gravitationally inescapable centers. New work from Carnegie's Hubble Fellow Yue Shen and Luis Ho of the Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics (KIAA) at Peking University solves a quasar mystery that astronomers have been puzzling over for 20 years. Their work, published in the September 11 issue of Nature, shows that most observed quasar phenomena can be unified with two simple quantities: one that describes how efficiently the hole is being fed, and the other that reflects the viewing orientation of the astronomer.

China to launch second space lab in 2016, official says

China will launch its second orbiting space laboratory in two years' time, a top official said Wednesday, the latest step in an ambitious space programme Beijing says will one day land a Chinese man on the moon.

Spitzer's SPLASH project dives deep for galaxies

(Phys.org) —A new survey of galaxies by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope is taking a plunge into the deep and uncharted waters of our cosmos. In one of the longest surveys the telescope will have ever performed, astronomers have begun a three-month expedition trawling for faint galaxies billions of light-years away.

Hubble finds supernova companion star after two decades of searching

(Phys.org) —Using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers have discovered a companion star to a rare type of supernova. The discovery confirms a long-held theory that the supernova, dubbed SN 1993J, occurred inside what is called a binary system, where two interacting stars caused a cosmic explosion.

Scientists take key step toward solving a major astrophysical mystery

Magnetic reconnection can trigger geomagnetic storms that disrupt cell phone service, damage satellites and black out power grids. But how reconnection, in which the magnetic field lines in plasma snap apart and violently reconnect, transforms magnetic energy into explosive particle energy remains a major unsolved problem in plasma astrophysics. Magnetic field lines represent the direction, and indicate the shape, of magnetic fields.

This star cluster is not what it seems

This new image from the VLT Survey Telescope in northern Chile shows a vast collection of stars, the globular cluster Messier 54. This cluster looks similar to many others but it has a secret. Messier 54 doesn't belong to the Milky Way, but is part of a satellite galaxy, the Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy. This parentage allowed astronomers to test whether there are also low levels of the element lithium in stars outside the Milky Way.

Algorithm tested aboard the International Space Station analyzes the rotation of objects in space

Objects in space tend to spin—and spin in a way that's totally different from the way they spin on earth. Understanding how objects are spinning, where their centers of mass are, and how their mass is distributed is crucial to any number of actual or potential space missions, from cleaning up debris in the geosynchronous orbit favored by communications satellites to landing a demolition crew on a comet.

Mars rover Opportunity's vista includes long tracks

From a ridgeline viewpoint, NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity recently recorded a scene looking back over its own tracks made from nearly half a mile (more than 700 meters) of southbound driving.

NASA image: Flying through an aurora

European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst posted this photograph taken from the International Space Station to social media on Aug. 29, 2014, writing, "words can't describe how it feels flying through an #aurora. I wouldn't even know where to begin…."

X-Calibur mission is finishing its last flight-readiness checks in preparation for launch

One night this September, scientists working at the old municipal airport in the desert town of Fort Sumner, N.M., picked up the InFOCuS X-ray telescope with a crane, carried it to the open doors of a hanger and pointed it at the starry sky overhead.

Black hole thermodynamics

In the 1800s scientists studying things like heat and the behavior of low density gases developed a theory known as thermodynamics. As the name suggests, this theory describes the dynamic behavior of heat (or more generally energy). The core of thermodynamics is embodied by its four basic laws.

Is the universe a stable quantum system?

According to legend, when Damocles declared that his king, Dionysius, must have a posh and easy life, Dionysius offered to trade places with Damocles. There was only one catch. Dionysius decreed that a sword be suspended over the throne by a single horse hair, so that Damocles would always know the peril of being king. Since then the Sword of Damocles has come to represent a threat of doom that could strike without warning. While the prospect of living under a hanging sword doesn't seem pleasant, stories of impending doom are quite popular, particularly within popular science.

Scientific balloon set to measure gamma rays from the Crab Pulsar

Starting today at NASA's Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Fort Sumner, New Mexico, space scientists from the University of New Hampshire will attempt to launch a football-field-sized balloon carrying a one-ton instrument payload that will measure gamma rays from the Crab Pulsar - the remains of a 1054 A.D. supernova explosion 6,500 light years from Earth. The measurements, taken 130,000 feet above Earth, could eventually provide a window into the universal, poorly understood process of particle acceleration.

Scientists: 'Extreme' solar storm heading to Earth

Scientists say an extreme solar flare is blasting its way to Earth and could mess up some power grids, satellites and radio transmissions.

Looking at Jupiter's radio frequencies

In the visible spectrum, Jupiter is a bright, star-like point in the night sky. Viewing it with the naked eye, it would be easy to confuse it with a star except for the fact that it doesn't twinkle. At radio frequencies Jupiter appears very different. It doesn't have a simple round shape, for example, and it is extraordinarily bright. So bright that it can outshine the Sun at some radio frequencies.

Three comets for northern hemisphere observers

As the Chinese proverb says, "May you live in interesting times," and while the promise of Comet ISON dazzling observers didn't exactly pan out as hoped for in early 2014, we now have a bevy of binocular comets set to grace evening skies for northern hemisphere observers. Comet 2012 K1 PanSTARRS has put on a fine show, and comet C/2014 E2 Jacques has emerged from behind the Sun and its close 0.085 AU passage near Venus and has already proven to be a fine target for astro-imagers. And we've got another icy visitor to the inner solar system beating tracks northward in the form of Comet C/2013 V5 Oukaimeden, and a grand cometary finale as comet A1 Siding Spring brushes past the planet Mars. That is, IF a spectacular naked eye comet doesn't come by and steal the show, as happens every decade or so…

Ultra-high definition timelapse from the space station

Holy moly! Take a look at this new 4K timelapse video from ESA created from imagery taken by astronaut Alexander Gerst. Before you watch, however, you might want to change your video viewing setting to as high as they can go.

Scientists express concern over long-term vision for satellite-based research

The U.S. has more than 30 civilian, Earth-observing satellites circling the planet, providing scientists with a torrent of crucial environmental and climate information. More satellites are on deck to launch in the next few years. But, according to an article in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly news magazine of the American Chemical Society, scientists have registered serious concerns over the lack of a long-term, cohesive vision for the scientific missions.

ASU astrophysicists to probe how early universe made chemical elements

In the beginning, all was hydrogen – and helium, plus a bit of lithium. Three elements in all. Today's universe, however, has nearly a hundred naturally occurring elements, with thousands of variants (isotopes), and more likely to come.

NASA sees a significant flare surge off the Sun

The sun emitted a significant solar flare, peaking at 1:48 p.m. EDT on Sept. 10, 2014. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured images of the event.

Medicine & Health news

When spikes collide: Shaking the foundation of neuroscience

(Medical Xpress)—What happens when pulses on axons collide? Fortunately for neuroscience, that usually only happens when neuroscientists artificially create counter-propagating pulses to study connections. In real brains however, collision is not only an integral reality of every kind neurite, we might imagine it as the principal concern of the neuron itself and the reason they take the unique forms they do. If pulses annihilate upon collision, as the standard theory prescribes, then all might still appear well in Neverland. But if they don't annihilate—that is they pass through each other and continue on—then not only have we misled ourselves about how the structure of a neuron might relate to its activity, but more alarmingly, we have been misled about the fundamental nature of the pulse itself.

Combining antibodies, iron nanoparticles and magnets steers stem cells to injured organs

Researchers at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute infused antibody-studded iron nanoparticles into the bloodstream to treat heart attack damage. The combined nanoparticle enabled precise localization of the body's own stem cells to the injured heart muscle.

Research shows how brain can tell magnitude of errors

(Medical Xpress)—University of Pennsylvania researchers have made another advance in understanding how the brain detects errors caused by unexpected sensory events. This type of error detection is what allows the brain to learn from its mistakes, which is critical for improving fine motor control.  

Study examines impact of violent media on the brain

With the longstanding debate over whether violent movies cause real world violence as a backstop, a study published today in PLOS One found that each person's reaction to violent images depends on that individual's brain circuitry, and on how aggressive they were to begin with.

Blocking one receptor could halt rheumatoid arthritis

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine have shown for the first time how the activation of a receptor provokes the inflammation and bone degradation of rheumatoid arthritis—and that activation of this one receptor, found on cells in the fluid of arthritic joints, is all that is required.

Can your blood type affect your memory?

People with blood type AB may be more likely to develop memory loss in later years than people with other blood types, according to a study published in the September 10, 2014, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Neuroscientists decode brain maps to discover how we take aim

Serena Williams won her third consecutive US Open title a few days ago, thanks to reasons including obvious ones like physical strength and endurance. But how much did her brain and its egocentric and allocentric functions help the American tennis star retain the cup?

Do children make you happier?

Women who have difficulty accepting the fact that they can't have children following unsuccessful fertility treatment have worse long-term mental health than women who are able to let go of their desire for children, according to new research.

Smartphones may aid in dietary self-monitoring

The ability and consistency in monitoring one's diet, but not dietary quality, improves with the use of smartphone applications, according to new research by Arizona State University health scientists published in the latest issue of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.

Mothers' responses to babies' crying: Benefiting from and getting over childhood experiences

Research has told us that infants whose mothers respond quickly, consistently, and warmly when they cry have healthier emotional development than infants whose mothers are less sensitive to their cries. A new study has found that mothers whose childhood experiences with caregivers was positive and those who have come to terms with negative experiences are more infant-oriented when they see videos of babies crying and respond more sensitively to their own babies' cries.

Parents' separation found to boost children's behavior problems, but only in high-income families

Before they reach young adulthood, most children in the United States will experience their parents separating, divorcing, finding another partner, or getting remarried.

When talking about body size, African-American women and doctors may be speaking different languages

African American women and their female children have the highest obesity prevalence of any demographic group and are more likely to underestimate their body weight than white women. Yet, according to new research from Rush University Medical Center, cultural norms for body size may prevent awareness among many African American women about the potential health benefits they and others in their cultural group might achieve through weight loss.

MRI shows gray matter myelin loss strongly related to MS disability

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) lose myelin in the gray matter of their brains and the loss is closely correlated with the severity of the disease, according to a new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study. Researchers said the findings could have important applications in clinical trials and treatment monitoring. The study appears online in the journal Radiology.

Study indicates that statins may protect against microvascular complications of diabetes

The development of common diabetes complications that can lead to blindness and amputations could be reduced by taking statins, indicates new research published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.

Frequent cannabis use in adolescence linked with reduced educational attainment

Individuals who are daily users of cannabis before age 17 are over 60% less likely to complete high school or obtain a degree compared to those who have never used the drug, new research published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal shows. The large meta-analysis also indicates that daily users of cannabis during adolescence are seven times more likely to attempt suicide, have an 18 times greater chance of cannabis dependence, and are eight times as likely to use other illicit drugs in later life.

Living liver donors ambivalent with donation

Living donors are important to increasing the number of viable grafts for liver transplantation. A new study published in Liver Transplantation, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the International Liver Transplantation Society, found that ambivalence is common among donor candidates. However, providing social support may help minimize the donors' concerns regarding donation.

The history of medical studies of male infertility

In 1881 a German couple – Herr and Frau B - were trying to get pregnant with no success. They consulted Dr Levy, a gynaecologist based in Munich, for help. Levy was determined to approach the problem in a scientific manner and make a thorough investigation into the man's fertility. Over a period of several months, Levy made 12 pre-arranged home visits to the couple to conduct a study that he knew to be fraught with "obnoxiousness".

Sugar "has caused greater loss of biodiversity on the planet than any other single crop"

The World Health Organization recommends keeping sugar consumption to below five per cent of daily caloric intake, yet the fact that most North Americans consume far more than this on a daily basis continues to make headlines and is even the subject of a viral video lecture.

How our style of deliberating influences others

We've all been there. You're queued up, waiting patiently to order an ice-cream cone on a hot day, when you spot a customer at the front of the line who seems stumped about what flavor to order. As the minutes tick by, your patience gives way to irritation as all scooping stops while the customer dithers over the life-altering choice of chocolate or vanilla, and those waiting share exasperated glances or mutter unflattering words.

Study tracks who dengue-carrying mosquitoes bite

Most people bitten by dengue fever-transmitting mosquitoes in four northwestern Thai villages weren't residents but visitors, a finding that provides new clues about the spread of the dengue virus.

Optogenetics shed light on cardiac, lung, immune disease

New technologies involving optogenetic proteins, which use light to control and observe cells with unprecedented precision, have begun to illuminate processes underlying cellular behavior and the effects of cell- and gene-based therapies. Cornell researchers are developing advanced forms of these proteins to create a toolkit to make them more widely available to scientists.

Study explores connections between romantic relationships, health

(Medical Xpress)—Having a supportive, committed partner in a relationship is beneficial for health no matter whether the status of the couple is dating, living together or married, according to a new study from University of Georgia sociologists.

Expertise, preventive care important to stop ovarian cancer

You've heard the saying, "If it isn't broke, don't fix it."

The secret to a longer life keeping your waist to less half you height, study suggests

(Medical Xpress)—Keep your waist trimmer than half your height and you could significantly boost your life expectancy.

Online dating aggression linked to community violence

(Medical Xpress)—We've seen the headlines about young people being bullied by boyfriends or girlfriends through digital means such as the Internet and smartphones.

Researcher studies long-term marital happiness

(Medical Xpress)—A husband who's unhappy with his marriage is still likely to be happy with his life—if his wife gives their marriage high marks, a new study shows.

Working during depression can offer health benefits to employees

(Medical Xpress)—Attending work while suffering a depressive illness could help employees better manage their depression more than taking a sickness absence from work, a new study has found.

Air pollution harmful to young brains, study finds

Pollution in many cities threatens the brain development in children. Findings by University of Montana Professor Dr. Lilian Calderón-Garcidueñas, MA, MD, Ph.D., and her team of researchers reveal that children living in megacities are at increased risk for brain inflammation and neurodegenerative changes, including Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease.

Few overweight people with diabetes getting recommended physical activity

A study of exercise habits in people with diabetes finds that women with diabetes who are trying to lose weight are far more physically active than women with diabetes who are not trying to control their weight. Furthermore, men with diabetes were more physically active than women with diabetes, but no one was exercising the recommended amount for weight loss, according to the study reported in American Journal of Health Promotion.

Humans may have benefited from mobile genetic element insertions

Mobile pieces of DNA can jump around in the human genome and exert powerful regulatory effects on neighboring genes at new insertion sites. The most common mobile genetic elements are known as LINE-1 retrotransposons and comprise almost 20 per cent of all our DNA. Yet most genome-wide studies have underestimated the full impact of these important genetic regulators.

Genomic survey reveals that abnormal initiation sites for gene expression may promote stomach cancer

A*STAR researchers show that changes in histone modifications accelerate a type of stomach tumor known as gastric adenocarcinoma—a cancer that occurs more frequently in Asian populations than Western populations.

Research team pioneers image-guided, high-dose approach to breast cancer

An experimental approach to treating breast cancer being tested at the University of Virginia Health System allows doctors to administer significantly higher doses of cancer-killing radiation where it's needed at the same time as tumor removal while sparing healthy tissue, an initial research study suggests.

An appetite for life

A simple question about appetite can provide insights into old people's general health that may help reduce their risk of dying.

Improving athletic track performance

Umpires and judges are the unwitting focus of some of Australia's best fast bowlers, track and field athletes and gymnasts to improve their performance in competition, thanks to a new training technique discovered by a QUT researcher.

Chocolates and life sweeter when shared

Chocolate, like sunsets and movies, may be more enjoyable when shared, a new Yale University study suggests.

Computing power backs medical mega data needs

An increase in the use and linkage of data has significantly aided disease prevention efforts and an expansion of health-related advancements, according to two of the state's leading medical experts.

Teens' neural response to food commercials predicts future weight gain

Children and adolescents see thousands of food commercials each year and most of them advertise junk foods high in sugar, fat and salt. Yet, we know almost nothing about how all of this food marketing impacts the brain, especially for teens. New research suggests that food commercials "get under the skin" of teens by activating reward regions when they are viewing ads for milk shakes, or burgers, or colas. The bad news for us is that this can result in weight gain and obesity.

Pain tolerance levels between men and women are similar

Resilience, a person's ability to overcome adverse circumstances, is the main quality associated with pain tolerance among patients and their adjustment to chronic pain. This is the result of a new study carried out at the University of Málaga that shows that the effect of gender on this ability is not as significant as originally thought.

Puberty suppression benefits gender-questioning teens: study

(HealthDay)—Treatment to delay puberty among adolescents struggling with gender identity seems to boost psychological well-being for those who ultimately pursue sex reassignment, new research suggests.

Restricting calories may improve sleep apnea, blood pressure in obese people

Restricting calories may improve obstructive sleep apnea and reduce high blood pressure in obese adults, according to a study presented at the American Heart Association's High Blood Pressure Research Scientific Sessions 2014.

Team successfully completes fisrt clinical trial on HER-2-negative breast cancer with nintedanib

The experimental drug nintedanib, combined with standard chemotherapy with paclitaxel, causes a total remission of tumours in 50% of patients suffering from early HER-2- negative breast cancer, the most common type of breast cancer. These are the conclusions of the Phase I Clinical Trial, sponsored by the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) and carried out by CNIO ́s Breast Cancer Clinical Research Unit. The study has been published today in British Journal of Cancer.

Thyroid cancer rates in Pennsylvania rising faster than rest of country

Incidence of thyroid cancer is rising faster in Pennsylvania than in the rest of the United States, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers.

Small weight gain can raise blood pressure in healthy adults

Gaining just five pounds can increase your blood pressure, according to a study presented at the American Heart Association's High Blood Pressure Research Scientific Sessions 2014.

Missing piece found to help solve concussion puzzle

Researchers at UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh have created a new, 5- to 10-minute test that could be added to a clinician's concussion evaluation toolkit for a more comprehensive assessment of the injury.

Halving the risk of preterm birth for some twin pregnancies

International research involving the University of Adelaide has found that the risk of preterm birth could be halved for a specific group of "super high-risk" twin pregnancies.

Cyberbullying increases as students age

As students' age they are verbally and physically bullied less but cyberbullied more, non-native English speakers are not bullied more often than native English speakers and bullying increases as students' transition from elementary to middle school.

Even small stressors may be harmful to men's health, research shows

Older men who lead high-stress lives, either from chronic everyday hassles or because of a series of significant life events, are likely to die earlier than the average for their peers, new research from Oregon State University shows.

Fish and fatty acid consumption associated with lower risk of hearing loss in women

Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital found that consumption of two or more servings of fish per week was associated with a lower risk of hearing loss in women. Findings of the new study Fish and Fatty Acid Consumption and Hearing Loss study led by Sharon G. Curhan, MD, BWH Channing Division of Network Medicine, are published online on September 10 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN).

A new way to look at diabetes and heart risk

People with diabetes who appear otherwise healthy may have a six-fold higher risk of developing heart failure regardless of their cholesterol levels, new Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health research suggests.

Study: Many US hospitals use too many antibiotics (Update)

Doctors in many U.S. hospitals are unnecessarily prescribing multiple antibiotics for several days when just one would do the job, a new study released Wednesday suggests.

Many U.S. kids missing out on preventive care, CDC says

(HealthDay)—Most adults can remember the battery of health services they endured as kids: hearing and vision tests, dental exams, regular checkups and vaccinations.

Device to help people with Parkinson's disease communicate better now available

SpeechVive Inc. announced Wednesday (Sept. 10) the commercial launch of the SpeechVive device intended to help people with a soft voice due to Parkinson's disease speak more loudly and communicate more effectively.

Genomic analysis reveals that a high-risk leukemia subtype becomes more common with age

More than one-quarter of young adults with the most common form of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have a high-risk subtype with a poor prognosis and may benefit from drugs widely used to treat other types of leukemia that are more common in adults, according to multi-institutional research led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital investigators. The study appears in the current issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.

Study provides more evidence that sleep apnea is hurting your brain

Employing a measure rarely used in sleep apnea studies, researchers at the UCLA School of Nursing have uncovered evidence of what may be damaging the brain in people with the sleep disorder—weaker brain blood flow.

Diverse neighborhoods may help infants' social learning

Experiencing diverse communities by hearing different languages at the park, on a bus or in the grocery store may make babies more open-minded in their social learning, a new study finds.

Association between sunshine and suicide examined in study

Lower rates of suicide are associated with more daily sunshine in the prior 14 to 60 days.

State healthcare under Scottish referendum spotlight

Scotland's independence referendum has thrown the spotlight on Britain's state-run National Health Service, as campaigners clash over the claim that it faces privatisation by stealth.

Puerto Rico partners on US HIV vaccine project

Puerto Rico's governor says the island's largest public university is partnering with federal agencies to oversee a U.S.-funded project aimed at trying to develop a prophylactic vaccine for the HIV virus that causes AIDS.

False alarm over suspected Italy Ebola case

A Nigerian woman suspected of being Italy's first Ebola case is in fact sick with malaria, regional health services said Wednesday.

Researchers back call by world leaders for end to criminalisation of drugs

The Australian Drug Law Reform Initiative (ADLaRI) has welcomed a new report by the Global Commission on Drug Policy that calls for the decriminalisation of drug use and possession, alternatives to incarceration, and a greater emphasis on public health approaches to the problem of drug addiction. 

Allergists to study epinephrine auto-injector program

McMaster researchers will be following a pilot project being launched in Hamilton's Jackson Square shopping mall to make epinephrine auto-injectors (EAIs) available to the public.

Ebola 'overwhelming' health services in west Africa

Health workers reported Wednesday being overwhelmed by new Ebola cases at the epicentre of an outbreak described as an existential threat to hardest-hit Liberia.

Hormones and illness behavior

Nicoletta Sonino and associates, in the current issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, point to the importance of including illness behavior (the ways in which people experience, perceive, evaluate and respond to their own health status) in the evaluation of patients with hormone disorders.

Real time in vitro evaluation of the carcinogenic potential of contaminants

The Genotrace project, combining targeted research and technology transfer, aims at delivering an innovative test to improve the safety of chemical products, drugs, human and animal food and the environment. The project consortium is led by INRA (French National Institute for Agricultural Research) and includes CNRS (French National Center for Scientific Research), the University Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier and the company Biopredic International. The Genotrace project has just received the support of the French National Research Agency (ANR) for three years.

Routinely separating siblings in foster care is unacceptable

In order to protect children from harm, the state has the power to separate children from their parents. In exceptional cases it is sometimes necessary to separate siblings – to protect them from harm or ensure their individual needs are met.

Lower cost leads to more children taken to accident and medical clinics

Lowering the cost of going to some Accident and Medical clinics in Auckland on evenings and weekends, appears to have led to an increase in the number of children under six using these clinics, according to research from the University of Auckland.

Mobile health no substitute for improvements in the health system

Mobile health services are not the hoped for silver bullet to improved disease prevention and control in the Pacific, according to researcher, Elaine Umali.

Struggling to match the demand for cancer treatment

The changes to the NHS that have taken place over last 18 months have thrown up some real challenges. And when it comes to caring for our patients, things on the ground are starting to get quite tricky. So the findings of today's new report on Cancer Services entirely resonate with those of us on the front-line in the health service.

Using plants to produce enzyme may provide treatment for high blood pressure in lungs

Using plant leaves to produce and deliver a key enzyme may improve treatment for life-threatening high blood pressure in the lungs, according to a study presented at the American Heart Association's High Blood Pressure Research Scientific Sessions 2014.

Unnecessary antibiotic use responsible for $163M in potentially avoidable hospital costs

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Premier, Inc. have released new research on the widespread use of unnecessary and duplicative antibiotics in U.S. hospitals, which could have led to an estimated $163 million in excess costs. The inappropriate use of antibiotics can increase risk to patient safety, reduce the efficacy of these drugs and drive up avoidable healthcare costs. The study is published in the October issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA).

Healthcare workers wash hands more often when in presence of peers

Nationally, hand hygiene adherence by healthcare workers remains staggeringly low despite its critical importance in infection control. A study in the October issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), found that healthcare workers' adherence to hand hygiene is better when other workers are nearby.

Monitoring the response of bone metastases to treatment using MRI and PET

Imaging technologies are very useful in evaluating a patient's response to cancer treatment, and this can be done quite effectively for most tumors using RECIST, Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. However, RECIST works well for tumors located in soft tissue, but not so well for cancers that spread to the bone, such as is the case for prostate and breast cancers. More effort, therefore, is needed to improve our understanding of how to monitor the response of bone metastases to treatment using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET), and a recent EORTC Imaging Group review and position statement published in the European Journal of Cancer is a decidedly welcome contribution.

New evidence points to outcomes and cost benefits of telemedicine

Congestive heart failure, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are three of the leading causes of death in the U.S. The use of telemedicine to help manage chronic diseases such as these can yield clear benefits including fewer and shorter hospital stays, fewer emergency room visits, less severe illness, and even fewer deaths, as reported in a study published in Telemedicine and e-Health.

SLeone expects to uncover hundreds of hidden Ebola cases: govt

Sierra Leone said on Wednesday it expected to uncover up to 20 percent more Ebola victims when it imposes a nationwide curfew to find the dead and sufferers who have yet to go to hospital.

Gates Foundation to spend $50M on Ebola response (Update)

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced Wednesday that it will spend $50 million—on top of $10 million already committed—to support emergency response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, marking the group's largest donation to a humanitarian effort.

Haiti gets help for mosquito-borne virus outbreak

Haiti has received a large shipment of treatment packets to help it deal with an outbreak of the mosquito-borne virus known as chikungunya amid a rainy season expected to result in a surge of new cases in the country, officials said Wednesday.

Seven US-based researchers share $1.3M eyesight prize

Seven U.S.-based researchers are sharing a €1 million ($1.3 million) prize from a Portuguese foundation for their work developing treatment for angiogenic diseases of the retina, the leading cause of blindness in the developed world.

Recreational pot eclipses medical pot in Colorado

Colorado is now selling more recreational pot than medical pot, a turning point for the newly legal industry.

Role of emergency contact is mistaken for advance directive, study says

More than 95 percent of patients treated in an Emergency Department mistake their emergency contact as the designated medical decision maker for end-of-life care, according to a new study by Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.

Study examines vitiligo, alopecia areata and chronic graft vs. host disease

Vitiligo (depigmentation of the skin) and alopecia areata (AA, patchy or complete hair loss) in patients with chronic graft-vs-host disease (GvHD) following a stem cell transplant appear to be associated with having a female donor and the sex mismatch of a female donor and male recipient.


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