niedziela, 5 października 2014

Fwd: Science X Newsletter Monday, Sep 22


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Tue, Sep 23, 2014 at 2:19 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Monday, Sep 22
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>


Dear Pascal Alter,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for September 22, 2014:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Best of Last Week - Zero friction quantum engine, twisted radio beams and Ebola outbreak update
- New 'topological insulator' could lead to superfast computers
- Sandia magnetized fusion technique produces significant results
- Geologists find well water chemicals changed prior to two different earthquakes
- Lego-like modular components make building 3-D 'labs-on-a-chip' a snap
- Graphene imperfections key to creating hypersensitive 'electronic nose'
- Antifreeze proteins in Antarctic fishes prevent freezing... and melting
- Improved liquid battery: Longer-lasting materials could enable batteries that make renewables more competitive
- Immune response turned up, not down, by flu during pregnancy, study finds
- Plant variants point the way to improved biofuel production
- The fine line between breast cancer and normal tissues
- Piezoelectric chin device harvests jaw movements for energy
- Firelight talk of the Kalahari Bushmen: Did tales told over fires aid our social and cultural evolution?
- Platelets modulate clotting behavior by 'feeling' their surroundings
- Infant solar system shows signs of windy weather

Astronomy & Space news

US spacecraft enters Mars orbit, India probe next (Update)

NASA's Maven spacecraft entered orbit around Mars for an unprecedented study of the red planet's atmosphere following a 442 million-mile (710 million-kilometer) journey that began nearly a year ago.

Sky survey of gamma ray sources reveals galactic energy bubbles

Yesterday I talked about the Fermi gamma ray telescope, and how it allowed us to make much more precise observations of gamma rays in the universe. Part of the purpose of the Fermi telescope is to observe gamma ray bursts, but its broader purpose is to make a sky survey of gamma ray sources in the universe. Already it has found something quite interesting.

Finding hints of gravitational waves in the stars

Scientists have shown how gravitational waves—invisible ripples in the fabric of space and time that propagate through the universe—might be "seen" by looking at the stars. The new model proposes that a star that oscillates at the same frequency as a gravitational wave will absorb energy from that wave and brighten, an overlooked prediction of Einstein's 1916 theory of general relativity. The study, which was published today in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters, contradicts previous assumptions about the behavior of gravitational waves.

Infant solar system shows signs of windy weather

Astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) have observed what may be the first-ever signs of windy weather around a T Tauri star, an infant analog of our own Sun. This may help explain why some T Tauri stars have disks that glow weirdly in infrared light while others shine in a more expected fashion.

An anomaly in satellite flybys confounds scientists

When space probes, such as Rosetta and Cassini, fly over certain planets and moons in order to gain momentum and travel long distances, their speed changes slightly for an unknown reason. A Spanish researcher has now analysed whether or not a hypothetical gravitomagnetic field could have an influence. However, other factors such as solar radiation, tides, or even relativistic effects or dark matter could be behind this mystery.

What causes the diffraction spikes in images of stars?

When stars are portrayed in media, they are often shown with long spikes emanating from them. Perhaps the most common example is that of the "star of Bethlehem" which, according to the story, led the wise men to baby Jesus. Of course when we look at stars in the night sky, we don't see any such spikes. Stars twinkle due to atmospheric disturbances, but that's about it. In photographs, however, bright stars often have such long spikes. So what causes them? It all has to do with an interesting bit of optics.

The frequency of high-energy gamma ray bursts

In the 1960s a series of satellites were built as part of Project Vela.  Project Vela was intended to detect violations of the 1963 ban on above ground testing of nuclear weapons.  The Vela satellites were designed to detect bursts of gamma rays, which are high energy electromagnetic waves (light) produced by radioactive decay.  If any nuclear weapon was detonated in space, the resulting radioactive decay would release a large amount of gamma rays which would be detected by the Vela satellites.

How gamma ray telescopes work

Yesterday I talked about the detection of gamma ray bursts, intense blasts of gamma rays that occasionally appear in distant galaxies. Gamma ray bursts were only detected when gamma ray satellites were put into orbit in the 1960s. This is because gamma rays are absorbed by our atmosphere. Even then, the detectors were relatively primitive and couldn't determine the direction of the bursts. Instead, multiple satellites were used to triangulate the location of these bursts. Since then, gamma ray astronomy has gotten much more sophisticated.

Experts and audience contest Pluto's 'dwarf planet' status

Could the stars be aligned for Pluto to reassume its place in the solar system? The International Astronomical Union (IAU) voted in 2006 to demote Pluto from planetary status. But after an hourlong debate Thursday night between planetary science experts on what constitutes a planet, an audience packed into Phillips Auditorium at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) voted to restore it to its former rank.

University launches world's first photographs taken with telescope made by 3D printing

The University of Sheffield has released the very first photos of space ever taken with a telescope that has been made using a 3D printer.

Living on the edge: Rosetta's lander philae is set to take the plunge

This is a very exciting time for space science in general and for the Rosetta spacecraft in particular. A little more than a month after arriving at comet 7P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, Rosetta has mapped its surface well enough to help scientists choose a location to set down Philae, the first-ever comet lander. Or, at least, try to. Here to tell us more about the recent mapping of comet 7P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, the announcement Philae's landing site, and what comes next for the Rosetta spacecraft is Dr. Claudia Alexander of the Rosetta mission.

NASA launches RapidScat wind watcher to Space Station

A new NASA mission that will boost global monitoring of ocean winds for improved weather forecasting and climate studies is among about 5,000 pounds (2,270 kilograms) of NASA science investigations and cargo now on their way to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft. The cargo ship launched on the company's Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 10:52 p.m. PDT Saturday, Sept. 20 (1:52 a.m. EDT Sunday, Sept. 21).

Explainer: What makes the spring equinox?

It's the time of the equinox or more specifically the spring equinox for us in the southern hemisphere.

Breezy science, plant studies and more head to space station on SpaceX-4

Imagine a dragon flying through the heavens on mighty, outstretched wings. The majestic beast knows the currents of winds and how to harness their power as it soars above the clouds. SpaceX's real Dragon- the company's spacecraft that transports supplies and science to the International Space Station (ISS) - will deliver, and later return, new technology, biology and biotechnology and Earth and space science research to the orbiting outpost.

Gravitational waves according to Planck

Scientists of the Planck collaboration, and in particular the Trieste team, have conducted a series of in-depth checks on the discovery recently publicized by the Antarctic Observatory, which announced last spring that it had detected some direct effects of gravitational waves on cosmic microwave background radiation, a potentially groundbreaking discovery in the field of cosmology. Analysis of the Planck satellite data demonstrates that the effect of contaminating sources, such as gases from our galaxy, cannot be ruled out.

SpaceX breaks ground on Texas rocket launch site

SpaceX founder Elon Musk says his company expects to spend $100 million in South Texas over the next three to four years on the first commercial orbital spaceport.

NASA launches new citizen science website; opens challenge to participate in future Mars missions

NASA announced Saturday the opening of registration for its Mars Balance Mass Challenge and the launch of its new website, NASA Solve, at the World Maker Faire in New York.

Medicine & Health news

Study reveals how gene expression affects facial expressions

A person's face is the first thing that others see, and much remains unknown about how it forms—or malforms—during early development. Recently, Chong Pyo Choe, a senior postdoctoral fellow working in the lab of USC stem cell researcher Gage Crump, has begun to unwind these mysteries.

Neuroscientists challenge long-held understanding of the sense of touch

Different types of nerves and skin receptors work in concert to produce sensations of touch, University of Chicago neuroscientists argue in a review article published Sept. 22, 2014, in the journal Trends in Neurosciences. Their assertion challenges a long-held principle in the field—that separate groups of nerves and receptors are responsible for distinct components of touch, like texture or shape. They hope to change the way somatosensory neuroscience is taught and how the science of touch is studied.

Brainwave test could improve autism diagnosis and classification

A new study by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University suggests that measuring how fast the brain responds to sights and sounds could help in objectively classifying people on the autism spectrum and may help diagnose the condition earlier. The paper was published today in the online edition of the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disabilities.

The fine line between breast cancer and normal tissues

Up to 40 percent of patients undergoing breast cancer surgery require additional operations because surgeons may fail to remove all the cancerous tissue in the initial operation. However, researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) have successfully tested a tool they developed that will help surgeons better distinguish cancerous breast tissue from normal tissue, thereby decreasing the chances for repeat operations.

Immune response turned up, not down, by flu during pregnancy, study finds

Pregnant women have an unusually strong immune response to influenza, an unexpected finding that may explain why they get sicker from the flu than other healthy adults, new research from the Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford has found.

Platelets modulate clotting behavior by 'feeling' their surroundings

Platelets, the tiny cell fragments whose job it is to stop bleeding, are very simple. They don't have a cell nucleus. But they can "feel" the physical environment around them, researchers at Emory and Georgia Tech have discovered.

Using mathematical theory and software tools, team studies why a variable heart rate is a sign of health and fitness

Although the heart beats out a very familiar "lub-dub" pattern that speeds up or slows down as our activity increases or decreases, the pattern itself isn't as regular as you might think. In fact, the amount of time between heartbeats can vary even at a "constant" heart rate—and that variability, doctors have found, is a good thing.

Old drug may be key to new antibiotics

McMaster scientists have found that an anticonvulsant drug may help in developing a new class of antibiotics.

Dry roasting could help trigger peanut allergy

Dry roasted peanuts are more likely to trigger an allergy to peanuts than raw peanuts, suggests an Oxford University study involving mice.

E-cigarettes unhelpful in smoking cessation among cancer patients

In a new study of cancer patients who smoke, those using e-cigarettes (in addition to traditional cigarettes) were more nicotine dependent and equally or less likely to have quit smoking traditional cigarettes than non-users. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings raise doubts about the potential benefits of e-cigarettes for helping cancer patients give up smoking.

Mothers of children with autism less likely to have taken iron supplements

Mothers of children with autism are significantly less likely to report taking iron supplements before and during their pregnancies than the mothers of children who are developing normally, a study by researchers with the UC Davis MIND Institute has found.

Research evaluates neurodevelomental and medical outcomes in single family room NICU

The prevalence of preterm birth – the birth of an infant prior to 37 weeks of pregnancy – is a significant health problem that has increased over the past two decades. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), preterm birth affects nearly 500,000 babies each year, or one of every eight born in the U.S. While medical care has improved survival rates for preterm infants, questions remain about ways to positively impact the neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants.

Brief intervention may prevent increased risk of depression in teens

A low-cost, one-time intervention that educates teens about the changeable nature of personality traits may prevent an increase in depressive symptoms often seen during the transition to high school, according to new research published in Clinical Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

Narrow focus on physical activity could be ruining kids' playtime

While public health authorities focus on the physical activity benefits of active play, a new study from the University of Montreal reveals that for children, playing has no goal – it is an end in itself, an activity that is fun, done alone or with friends, and it represents "an opportunity to experience excitement or pleasure, but also to combat boredom, sadness, fear, or loneliness."

Researchers study impact of smoking ban in homeless shelter

Instituting a partial smoking ban at a homeless shelter can lead to a reduction in expired carbon monoxide levels, an indicator of exposure to cigarette smoke, and may have positive effects on shelter residents' health, according to new research. The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) released the study results last week in the journal Addictive Behaviors.

The effects of soy and whey protein supplementation on acute hormonal reponses to resistance exercise in men

With protein supplement use by athletes on the rise, a group of researchers expanded upon prior research examining the effects of soy and whey protein supplementation on testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and cortisol responses to an acute bout of resistance exercise. Their study, "The Effects of Soy and Whey Protein Supplementation on Acute Hormonal Reponses to Resistance Exercise in Men" is the 2014 Ragus Award Winner as Best Article from the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, the official publication of the American College of Nutrition.

Researcher tackles the prevalence of diabetes in South Asian population

A Rutgers graduate student is striving to reduce the chances that his fellow South Asians will acquire diabetes by getting them to alter their traditional, high-carb diet. South Asians are four times more likely than other ethnic groups to develop Type 2 diabetes – one in two go undiagnosed – due to genetics and diets high in refined carbohydrates, such as rice.

Mechanism of Parkinson's spread demonstrated

An international, interdisciplinary group of researchers led by Gabor G. Kovacs from the Clinical Institute of Neurology at the MedUni Vienna has demonstrated, through the use of a new antibody, how Parkinson's disease spreads from cell to cell in the human brain. Until now, this mechanism has only been observed in experimental models, but has now been demonstrated for the first time in humans too.

Researchers discover gene that increases incidence of acute myelogenous leukaemia

A novel study by the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore (CSI Singapore) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) found that an increase in a gene known as Leo1 affects other genes that are directly implicated in acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML), increasing the incidence of cancer.

Healthy lifestyle choices may dramatically reduce risk of heart attack in men

Following a healthy lifestyle, including maintaining a healthy weight and diet, exercise, not smoking and moderating alcohol intake, could prevent four out of five coronary events in men, according to a new study publishing today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Spain: Ebola test drug out of supply worldwide

Doctors treating a Spanish priest who was repatriated from West Africa on Monday after being diagnosed with the Ebola virus said there were no samples of experimental drug ZMapp available in the world right now, and they were considering alternative treatments.

New blood test may help diagnose depression

The World Health Organisation has determined that depressive disorders are the leading cause of disability worldwide. The recurrent and chronic forms of depression account for the bulk of the problem.

Mesothelioma risk endures over long-term

Western Australian researchers have determined the risk of developing mesothelioma continues to increase even 40 years after a person's first exposure to asbestos.

Western diet leads to poorer performance

Higher intake of a western diet by 14-year-olds has been linked with diminished cognitive performance at age 17.

New study finds 34 percent of severely injured patients undertriaged in the US

According to the American College of Surgeons' Committee on Trauma, patients with severe injuries should be treated at level I or level II trauma centers. Those centers have the resources to provide the best care for those patients.

Communication without detours: Previously unknown nerve cell shape presented

Certain nerve cells take a shortcut for the transmission of information: signals are not conducted via the cell`s center, but around it like on a bypass road. The previously unknown nerve cell shape is now presented in the journal Neuron by a research team from Heidelberg, Mannheim and Bonn.

New rules for anticancer vaccines

Scientists have found a way to find the proverbial needle in the cancer antigen haystack, according to a report published in The Journal of Experimental Medicine.

Classroom intervention helps shy kids learn

A program that helps teachers modify their interactions with students based on an individual's temperament helps shy children to become more engaged in their class work, and in turn, improves their math and critical thinking skills.

Evidence supports deep brain stimulation for obsessive-compulsive disorder

Available research evidence supports the use of deep brain stimulation (DBS) for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) who don't respond to other treatments, concludes a review in the October issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS).

New guidelines issued for managing peri- and postoperative atrial fibrillation

The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) has released new evidence-based guidelines for the prevention and treatment of perioperative and postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) and flutter for thoracic surgical procedures. The guidelines are published in The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.

Sales influence consumer food shopping habits

(HealthDay)—Consumers are more likely to buy high-calorie foods (HCF), but not low-calorie foods (LCF) on sale, according to a study published in the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Preventing Chronic Disease.

CDC: Oral health in young women needs improvement

(HealthDay)—Women of childbearing age in the United States should be encouraged to maintain better oral care and visit the dentist routinely, according to a study published Sept. 18 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Preventing Chronic Disease. Researchers found young pregnant women, those who are non-Hispanic black or Mexican-American, as well as those with lower income and less education, need to improve their oral care.

Common diabetes drug associated with risk of low levels of thyroid hormone

Metformin, a commonly used drug for treating type 2 diabetes, is linked to an increased risk of low thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in patients with underactive thyroids (hypothyroidism), according to a study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). Low levels of TSH can cause harm, such as cardiovascular conditions and fractures.

Influenza A potentiates pneumococcal co-infection: New details emerge

Influenza infection can enhance the ability of the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae to cause ear and throat infections, according to research published ahead of print in the journal Infection and Immunity.

Environment plays bigger role than genetics in food allergic disease eosinophilic esophagitis

Researchers have found that environment has a much stronger role than genetics in eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), a severe, often painful food allergy that renders children unable to eat a wide variety of foods.

Lack of thyroid hormone blocks hearing development

Fatigue, weight gain, chills, hair loss, anxiety, excessive perspiration—these symptoms are a few of the signs that the thyroid gland, which regulates the body's heart rate and plays a crucial role in its metabolism, has gone haywire. Now, new research from Tel Aviv University points to an additional complication caused by thyroid imbalance: congenital deafness.

Some concussion education more useful than others, parents say

Many parents whose kids participate in athletics will be asked to sign a waiver about concussion education, but that's not enough to ensure parents are confident about handling the injury, according to a new University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health.

Research study analyzes the best exercise for obese youths

What exercise program can best fight the "epidemic" of teen obesity? According to a study published in the JAMA Pediatrics, by combining aerobic exercise with resistance training.

Few kids receive psychotherapy along with medication for ADHD, study finds

About one quarter of commercially-insured children who are treated with medication for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder also receive psychotherapy, and the percentage is far lower in many parts of the country, according to a new RAND Corporation study.

Maternal breast milk is risk factor for cytomegalovirus transmission in premature infants

Premature infants, especially those born with very low-birth-weight (VLBW), are particularly vulnerable to cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection because of their immature immune systems. CMV infection can cause serious disease and, in severe cases, lead to death.

Statin use during hospitalization for hemorrhagic stroke associated with improved survival

Patients who were treated with a statin in the hospital after suffering from a hemorrhagic stroke were significantly more likely to survive than those who were not, according to a study published today in JAMA Neurology. This study was conducted by the same researchers who recently discovered that the use of cholesterol-lowering statins can improve survival in victims of ischemic stroke.

Blood test may help determine who is at risk for psychosis

A study led by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers represents an important step forward in the accurate diagnosis of people who are experiencing the earliest stages of psychosis.

Ebola kills 2,811, outbreak 'contained' in Senegal, Nigeria: WHO

The deadliest Ebola epidemic ever has now killed 2,811 in west Africa, the World Health Organization said Monday, adding though that in Senegal and Nigeria the outbreak had been basically contained.

Silicon Valley launches another bid to 'hack' aging, cheat death

Ever wanted to stretch your life to Old Testament proportions? You may be in luck. A movement of Silicon Valley thinkers and entrepreneurs wants you to live as long as Jacob, who died at 147, and maybe even Noah, who made it to 950.

When cancer simply vanishes, could it be a key to a cure?

In her 28-year career, Dr. Deborah Axelrod, a New York physician, says she's had just one patient whose advanced breast cancer inexplicably vanished.

Online ratings influence parents' choices of physicians for their children

Almost three-quarters (74%) of parents are aware of online rating sites for physicians, and more than one-quarter (28%) have used those online ratings to choose a healthcare provider for their children, according to U-M research published today in Pediatrics.

Obesity and stress pack a double hit for health

If you're overweight, you may be at greater risk for stress-related diseases like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer, according to a new study by Brandeis University.

Operative management of femoral neck Fx has changed

(HealthDay)—Trends in operative management of femoral neck fractures by orthopedic surgeons applying for board certification have changed over time, according to research published in the Sept. 3 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.

Unsolicited job leads may negatively impact mental health

(HealthDay)—Unsolicited job leads can have a deleterious effect on mental health, according to a study published in the June issue of the Journal of Health and Social Behavior.

AACR: tumor vulnerability varies with clonal evolution in ALL

(HealthDay)—In acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), tumor vulnerability to different chemotherapeutic agents varies at different stages of clonal evolution, which could represent a viable strategy in avoiding drug resistance. These findings were presented at the American Association for Cancer Research's special conference on Hematologic Malignancies: Translating Discoveries to Novel Therapies, held from Sept. 20 to 23 in Philadelphia.

Pediatricians urge flu vaccine for all kids 6 months and older

(HealthDay)—Pediatricians are urging that all children aged 6 months and older be vaccinated for the upcoming flu season.

Pancreatic cancer risk not higher with diabetes Rx DPP-4i

(HealthDay)—There is no increased short-term pancreatic cancer risk with dipeptidyl-peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i) compared to sulfonylureas (SU) and thiazolidinediones (TZD) for glycemic control, according to a study published online Sept. 10 in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.

Compound from hops aids cognitive function in young animals

Xanthohumol, a type of flavonoid found in hops and beer, has been shown in a new study to improve cognitive function in young mice, but not in older animals.

Study reveals gene expression patterns in pancreatic CTCs

Analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in a mouse model of pancreatic cancer identified distinct patterns of gene expression in several groups of CTCs, including significant differences from the primary tumor that may contribute to the ability to generate metastases. In their study reported in the Sept. 25 issue of Cell Reports, investigators from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Cancer Center identified several different classes of pancreatic CTCs and found unexpected factors that may prove to be targets for improved treatment of the deadly tumor.

Reversing the effects of pulmonary fibrosis

Yale University researchers are studying a potential new treatment that reverses the effects of pulmonary fibrosis, a respiratory disease in which scars develop in the lungs and severely hamper breathing.

Experts provide much-needed policy analysis for clinical integration of next generation sequencing

As genetic sequencing technologies continue to evolve rapidly, becoming part of clinical care, there is a critical need to establish appropriate policies and regulatory frameworks to address potential challenges, legal and ethical experts have said. A special policy issue of the Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics published online today and edited by experts with the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy at Baylor College of Medicine gives policy makers the tools to jumpstart this process.

Think the system for paying US doctors is rigged to favor surgeons? Study may surprise you

A surprising new study pulls back the curtain on one of the most contentious issues in health care: differences in payment and income between physicians who perform operations, procedures or tests, and those who don't.

We drink more alcohol on gym days

A new Northwestern Medicine study finds that on days when people exercise more—typically Thursdays to Sundays—they drink more alcohol, too.

Job loss fears may boost first-time asthma risk

Job loss fears may boost the risk of developing asthma for the first time, indicates research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.

Uganda government challenged over carnage in the delivery room

As she lay bleeding to death in Valente Inziku's arms in a Ugandan government hospital in October 2010, Jennifer Anguko, pregnant with the couple's fourth child, wished her husband well as a single parent.

Yearly treatment could slow osteoarthritis

(Medical Xpress)—Researchers are trialling a once-a-year treatment to slow osteoarthritis. Led by Monash University Professor Flavia Cicuttini, the researchers are looking at whether medications currently used to treat osteoporosis, a progressive bone disease, might be able to treat osteoarthritis. 

A multiscale approach to Ebola response

The Ebola outbreak in western Africa continues to spread uncontrolled, affecting thus far five countries. On September 16th, President Obama spoke at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta and pledged a dramatically higher involvement: funding, providing supplies and beds and a military command center in Liberia. 3000 military personnel will be on the ground to help train and coordinate thousands of healthcare workers. However, treating patients is not enough. The success of this, or any, intervention depends on stopping the spread of the disease.

Nipah outbreak in South Asia offers lessons for controlling Ebola in West Africa

It is a deadly virus, killing more than half the people it infects. It originates in bats, crossing into humans who come in contact with them. It first causes fever, as do many other ailments, leaving health care workers with few early hints that they're dealing with something contagious and potentially deadly.

Are pregnant women getting enough key nutrients?

A research study at Massey University aims to uncover more about the dietary habits of pregnant women in New Zealand.

Auxilium Pharma rejects Endo's takeover offer

Auxilium Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s board has rejected an approximately $1.4 billion unsolicited takeover offer from Ireland's Endo International PLC.

German Merck to buy St. Louis-based Sigma-Aldrich

German drug company Merck says it has agreed to buy St. Louis-based chemical firm Sigma-Aldrich Corp. for $17 billion in a deal Merck says will strengthen its business in chemicals and laboratory equipment.

Neurosurgery tackles past, current and future concepts of sports concussion

An estimated 1.68 to 3.8 million sports-related concussions occur in the United States each year, and there are likely a significant number that go unreported. Current Concepts in Sports Concussion is a comprehensive, 16-article supplement of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. Chicago-area neurosurgeon Gail Rosseau, MD, the lead guest editor, is well known for her longtime commitment to sports-related head injury prevention, and serves on the Board of Directors of USA Football and ThinkFirst. Additional guest editors are neurosurgeons Julian Bailes, MD, and Joseph Maroon, MD – leading authorities in the field of sports-related concussion and head injury prevention.

Comprehensive Neurosurgery supplement covers sports-related concussions

Neurosurgeons have treated head and spinal sports injuries since the specialty was formed in the early 20th century, with formal efforts to mitigate these injuries dating back to 1931. Current Concepts in Sports Concussion is a comprehensive, 16-article supplement of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, part of Wolters Kluwer Health. The supplement includes a detailed, fascinating history of concussion treatment and research. The lead guest editor is Chicago-area neurosurgeon Gail Rosseau, MD, who serves on the Board of Directors of USA Football and ThinkFirst.

Nurse survey shows longer working hours impact on quality of care

Results of a survey of more than 30,000 nurses across Europe show that nurses who work longer shifts and more overtime are more likely to rate the standard of care delivered on their ward as poor, give a negative rating of their hospitals safety and omit necessary patient care.

SLU researcher to study new hepatitis C medication in children

After the success of a new drug treatment in adults with hepatitis C infection, a Saint Louis University pediatric researcher is testing the safety and efficacy of the medications in children.

Streets bustling after Sierra Leone shutdown ends

Streets in Sierra Leone's capital bustled again Monday after an unprecedented nationwide shutdown during which officials said more than 1 million households were checked for Ebola patients and given information on the deadly disease.

Involving female offenders in release planning can increase reintegration success

Women who are about to be released from prison need to be more involved in their discharge planning if they are to successfully reintegrate into their communities and avoid returning to prison, according to a new study.

Discount generic drug programs grow over time

Generic discount drug programs (GDDPs, which charge nominal fees to fill prescriptions) have grown over time and their initial lower use by racial/ethnic minorities has evaporated, writes author Song Hee Hong, Ph.D., of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, and Sunghee H. Tak, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.N., of the University of Memphis, Tennessee.

Hardwiring AHA guidelines into order system reduced telemetry orders

A health care system reduced its use of telemetry (monitoring to detect irregular heartbeats) by 70 percent by integrating the American Heart Association's (AHA's) guidelines into its electronic ordering system.

Good bowel cleansing is key for high-quality colonoscopy

The success of a colonoscopy is closely linked to good bowel preparation, with poor bowel prep often resulting in missed precancerous lesions, according to new consensus guidelines released by the U.S. Multi-Society Task force on Colorectal Cancer. Additionally, poor bowel cleansing can result in increased costs related to early repeat procedures. Up to 20 to 25 percent of all colonoscopies are reported to have an inadequate bowel preparation.

S. Leone faces 'overflow' of Ebola dead as curfew ends

Millions of Sierra Leoneans emerged from their homes on Monday after a controversial nationwide lockdown during which more than 200 dead bodies and new cases of Ebola infections were uncovered.

Doctor describes importance of interpretation in patient care

(HealthDay)—Understanding patients is important for all doctors, including those working with patients with limited English proficiency, according to an article published in the September/October issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.

Higher risk of heart disease for South Asians in Canada

South Asians living in Canada have a higher rate of heart disease and double the rate of diabetes compared with while people, McMaster researchers have found.

Pilot study demonstrates benefits of wellness program for people with MS

Kessler researchers have published a pilot study showing the benefits of a 10-week psychoeducational wellness program in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Improvements were seen in mood, overall mental health, perceived stress, and pain.

Looking ahead: Whole eye transplant under development

The concept of a whole eye transplant seems futuristic, if not impossible. But with a $1million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense, researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine hope to someday make implantation of an entire, functional eye a reality.

BBC begins nightly Ebola service in west Africa

BBC World Service radio on Monday began nightly Ebola broadcasts for west Africa, concentrating on efforts to combat the virus across the region.

Sierra Leone, Liberia brace for new Ebola cases

Two of the West African nations hardest hit by Ebola were bracing for new caseloads on Monday after trying to outflank the outbreak with a nationwide checkup and a large new clinic.


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