Fwd: Science X Newsletter Thursday, Sep 25

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Fri, Sep 26, 2014 at 2:25 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Thursday, Sep 25
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for September 25, 2014:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Water in the solar system predates the Sun
- Putting the squeeze on quantum information
- Live long and phosphor: Blue LED breakthrough for efficient electronics
- The ultimate biofilament: Hagfish slime
- New evidence of ancient multicellular life sets evolutionary timeline back 60 million years
- Interstellar molecules are branching out: Detection of iso-propyl cyanide with ALMA
- Study shows human impact on biodiversity on islands based on amount of trade
- Harvesting hydrogen fuel from the Sun using Earth-abundant materials
- Solar cell compound probed under pressure
- Unlocking long-hidden mechanisms of plant cell division
- Modified vitamin D shows promise as treatment for pancreatic cancer
- Dinosaur family tree gives fresh insight into rapid rise of birds
- Strategic or random? In the face of uncertainty, the brain chooses randomness as the best strategy
- Surprising diversity of antibody family provides clues for HIV vaccine design
- Large study pinpoints synapse genes with major roles in severe childhood epilepsies

Astronomy & Space news

	Water in the solar system predates the Sun Water was crucial to the rise of life on Earth and is also important to evaluating the possibility of life on other planets. Identifying the original source of Earth's water is key to understanding how life-fostering environments come into being and how likely they are to be found elsewhere. New work from a team including Carnegie's Conel Alexander found that much of our Solar System's water likely originated as ices that formed in interstellar space. Their work is published in Science.
	Interstellar molecules are branching out: Detection of iso-propyl cyanide with ALMA Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, Cornell University, and the University of Cologne have for the first time detected a carbon-bearing molecule with a "branched" structure in interstellar space. The molecule, iso-propyl cyanide (i-C3H7CN), was discovered in a giant gas cloud called Sagittarius B2, a region of ongoing star formation close to the center of our galaxy that is a hot-spot for molecule-hunting astronomers. The branched structure of the carbon atoms within the iso-propyl cyanide molecule is unlike the straight-chain carbon backbone of other molecules that have been detected so far, including its sister molecule normal-propyl cyanide. The discovery of iso-propyl cyanide opens a new frontier in the complexity of molecules found in regions of star formation, and bodes well for the presence of amino acids, for which this branched structure is a key characteristic. The results are published in this ! week's issue of Science.
	India's spacecraft beams back first Mars photos India's spacecraft has beamed back its first photos of Mars, showing its crater-marked surface, as the country glowed with pride Thursday after winning Asia's race to the Red Planet.
	Light scattering on dust holds clues to habitability We are all made of dust. Dust particles can be found everywhere in space. Disks of dust and debris swirl around and condense to form stars, planets and smaller objects like comets, asteroids and dwarf planets. But what can dust tell us about life's potential in the Universe?
	A galaxy of deception: Hubble snaps what looks like a young galaxy in the local universe Astronomers usually have to peer very far into the distance to see back in time, and view the Universe as it was when it was young. This new NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image of galaxy DDO 68, otherwise known as UGC 5340, was thought to offer an exception. This ragged collection of stars and gas clouds looks at first glance like a recently-formed galaxy in our own cosmic neighbourhood. But, is it really as young as it looks?
'First Pakistani in space' congratulates India on Mars mission A Pakistani explorer expected to become her country's first person in space congratulated India on Thursday on reaching Mars on its maiden attempt.
	Opening doors to space The same device that opens doors on buses and planes could be used to meet peak energy demands on satellites.
	Did the universe originate from a hyper-dimensional black hole? Lately there's been news of a radical new theory proposing that the universe began from a hyper-dimensional black hole. Most of the reports seem to stem from an article posted a while back on the Nature blog, which references the original paper. So let's have a little reality check.
	Astronomical measurements must account for gravity One of the consequences of general relativity is that light can be deflected by nearby masses. Mass curves space, and this curvature causes light to bend slightly. It was first observed during a total eclipse in 1919. The effect is extremely small unless the light passes close to a large mass, so gravitational lensing (as it is typically known) is usually only noticed with objects such as lensed galaxies, or specific tests of general relativity. But even though the effect is small as you get further from a mass, it isn't zero. As our astronomical measurements become more precise, the effects of gravity are starting to become something we can't ignore.
	MAVEN spacecraft returns first Mars observations NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft has obtained its first observations of the extended upper atmosphere surrounding Mars.
	Catching the planets and new views of Mars Looking west after sunset on Friday September 26, the thin waxing crescent moon forms a triangle with Mercury and Spica, the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo. You can see how far Mercury has travelled since passing close by Spica last weekend.
	A giant among Earth satellites The International Space Station has been called a stepping stone to other worlds.
	Crew including first woman cosmonaut in 17 years blasts off for ISS (Update) A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying an American astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts, including the first woman cosmonaut in 17 years, blasted off on schedule Friday, Russian mission control said.
	Video: Watch the Milky Way spin above the space station Have you ever sat outside on a starry night and just watched the stars move slowly above you? Here's a video that shows what it is like to sit back on a spaceship and gaze at the ever-changing sky above.
	Image: A splash of color across the supermoon A software engineer from Florida recently captured an image of the day-old supermoon in September that clearly conveys color variations across its surface. Such variations are often imperceptible, but the brightness and color differences were digitally enhanced to make them easier to discern. The color variations are indicative of compositional differences across the Lunar surface (e.g., iron content and impact ejecta).

Medicine & Health news

	Simple blood test could be used as tool for early cancer diagnosis (Medical Xpress)—Hypercalcaemia is the most common metabolic disorder associated with cancer, occurring in 10 to 20 per cent of people with cancer. While its connection to cancer is well known, this study has, for the first time, shown that often it can predate the diagnosis of cancer in primary care.
	Discovery may lead to better treatments for autoimmune diseases, bone loss (Medical Xpress)—Scientists have developed an approach to creating treatments for osteoporosis and autoimmune diseases that may avoid the risk of infection and cancer posed by some current medications.
	At least two regions of the brain decide what we perceive People have never been exposed to as many sensory stimuli as they are today. We do not, however, consciously perceive the majority of the sensory impressions that bombard us. Our brain processes these impressions without us noticing. But where does the brain decide which sensory information should reach our consciousness and which should not? Tests on the brains of macaques have shown that neurons in at least two regions of the brain, the temporal and frontal lobes, are responsible for this. Coma patients are among the potential beneficiaries of this research breakthrough.
	Surprising diversity of antibody family provides clues for HIV vaccine design Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have described how a single family of antibodies that broadly neutralizes different strains of HIV has evolved remarkably diverse structures to attack a vulnerable site on the virus. The findings provide clues for the design of a future HIV vaccine.
	Large study pinpoints synapse genes with major roles in severe childhood epilepsies An international research team has identified gene mutations causing severe, difficult-to-treat forms of childhood epilepsy. Many of the mutations disrupt functioning in the synapse, the highly dynamic junction at which nerve cells communicate with one another.
	Strategic or random? In the face of uncertainty, the brain chooses randomness as the best strategy Many of the choices we make are informed by experiences we've had in the past. But occasionally we're better off abandoning those lessons and exploring a new situation unfettered by past experiences. Scientists at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Janelia Research Campus have shown that the brain can temporarily disconnect information about past experience from decision-making circuits, thereby triggering random behavior.
	How physical exercise protects the brain from stress-induced depression Physical exercise has many beneficial effects on human health, including the protection from stress-induced depression. However, until now the mechanisms that mediate this protective effect have been unknown. In a new study in mice, researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden show that exercise training induces changes in skeletal muscle that can purge the blood of a substance that accumulates during stress, and is harmful to the brain. The study is being published in the prestigious journal Cell.
	Modified vitamin D shows promise as treatment for pancreatic cancer A synthetic derivative of vitamin D was found by Salk Institute researchers to collapse the barrier of cells shielding pancreatic tumors, making this seemingly impenetrable cancer much more susceptible to therapeutic drugs.
	Agonizing rabies deaths can be stopped worldwide The deadly rabies virus—aptly shaped like a bullet— can be eliminated among humans by stopping it point-blank among dogs, according to a team of international researchers led by the Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health at Washington State University.
	Interactive website helps lower-income smokers to stop smoking People with lower incomes attempting to quit smoking are 36% more likely to succeed if they use a new interactive website called 'StopAdvisor' than if they use a static information website, finds a randomised controlled trial led by UCL researchers. The trial was funded by the National Prevention Research Initiative, a consortium of 16 UK health research funders.
New study shows increased risk of venous thromboembolism among NSAIDs users A new study published online today in the journal Rheumatology demonstrates that there is a statistically significant increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) – a condition which includes deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism – among users of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). This finding has important public health implications given the prevalence of NSAID use in the general population.
Calming down immune cells could hold key to melanoma treatment Immune cells may be responsible for drug resistance in melanoma patients, according to research published in Cancer Discovery.
	Working long hours linked to increased risk of type 2 diabetes People working for more than 55 hours per week doing manual work or other low socioeconomic status jobs have a 30% greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to the largest study in this field so far, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.
Cryptogenic strokes may find explanation in the heart More than half of the patients who have suffered a stroke with no well-defined aetiology have an enlarged left atrial appendage of the heart, according to a Finnish study. The results indicate that the enlargement of the left atrial appendage may be an independent risk factor of strokes with cardiac origin.
Child maltreatment underreported in Medicaid claims, study finds (Medical Xpress)—Medicaid claims are a poor way to identify child abuse and neglect at a population level, according to a study from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.
Boosting purchasing power to lower obesity rates In January, as one of the first major initiatives of the Academic Vision, the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity will move to UConn from Yale University. The move will allow Rudd faculty to expand their work and build new collaborations with UConn experts on nutrition, public policy, psychology, agriculture, economics and obesity. Every Wednesday throughout this semester, read about the cutting-edge work spearheaded by UConn and Rudd investigators.
Oral curcumin may protect gut function Oral curcumin may be a viable therapy to improve intestinal barrier function changes caused by consuming a high-fat Western diet, according to a preclinical study by Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine researchers.
	Increased knowledge of HPV vaccines does not predict a higher rate of vaccination, study finds "Knowledge is power" is an old saying. Another cliché warns, "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing." When it comes to getting inoculated against the Human Papilloavirus (HPV), it seems that neither saying is true. In fact, according to a study by a multidisciplinary University of Pennsylvania research team, knowledge may in fact be a meaningless thing.
Researchers use infrared imaging to detect lung tumors Penn Medicine researchers are now able to identify cancerous tumors of the lung using infrared imaging that makes hidden tumors glow during surgery. In a pilot study, researchers performed the first in-human demonstration of this technology to identify lung tumors during surgery without prior knowledge of their location or existence. Their complete findings are available in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
Experts use novel modelling approach to assess the effectiveness of new diagnostics for TB Experts at LSTM have used a novel modelling approach to project the effects of new diagnostic methods and algorithms for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) recently endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO), looking at the patient, health system and population perspective in Tanzania.
	Workers who exercise lower health risks, cost less Get moving: just 20 minutes of exercise a day dramatically lowers the risk of diabetes and heart disease, even for employees with a high risk of developing those conditions.
	How neuroscience can teach children about mental health At a recent talk I gave as a Sheffield NeuroGirl, a group of three female PhD students who aim to bring interesting and exciting research on the brain to the public, I carried out a little experiment. I asked everyone to get to their feet and then for everyone who either had, or knew someone with a mental illness to sit back down again. Amazingly, only two people were left standing.
	Gender, social orientation affect children's reactions to bullying A new study of nearly 600 third-graders may explain why some children who experience peer victimization develop problems with depression or aggression while other children who also get bullied have healthy emotional and social adjustment.
	Spirituality, not religion, is critical to black women's well-being A number of studies have suggested that religion plays a critical role in black Americans' mental health and life satisfaction, aiding their ability to cope with personal and societal stressors. However, a new study indicates that spirituality, rather than religiosity, may be the element that is essential to black women's psychological well-being.
	Study highlights preferred treatment for varicose veins A study led by researchers from the University of Aberdeen which compared different treatments for varicose veins has found that laser treatment is the preferred treatment.
	New study finds vulnerability to radicalisation is linked to depression Members of the British Muslim community who are most at risk of radicalisation are more likely to have depression and be socially isolated, a pioneering research study led by Queen Mary University of London has found.
Nighttime hypotension predicts vision loss in glaucoma patients New research shows that having significantly lower systemic blood pressure in your body at night compared to during the day predicts vision loss in glaucoma patients. The finding could help conserve vision in these patients.
	Functional magnetic resonance images reflect input signals of nerve cells The development of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a success story for basic research. Today medical diagnostics would be inconceivable without it. But the research took time to reach fruition: it has been nearly half a century since physicists first began their investigations that ultimately led to what became known as nuclear magnetic resonance. In 2001, Nikos K. Logothetis and his colleagues at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Tübingen devised a new methodological approach that greatly deepened our understanding of the principles of functional MRI.
Sitting and office lighting among work risks Public health researchers at the University of Adelaide say office workers need to move more and sit less, and use warm-coloured lighting instead of blue-rich LEDs to help avoid some serious potential health risks.
Spaghetti for celiac patients? Just add worms Australian researchers have achieved groundbreaking results in a clinical trial using hookworms to reduce the symptoms of celiac disease.
	Treatment studied to help patients 'burned to the bone' An anti-inflammatory treatment, studied in the labs of regenerative medicine specialists and trauma surgeons, may prevent what's become one of the war-defining injuries for today's troops.
	ADHD: Brains not recognizing an angry expression Japanese researchers first identified the characteristics of facial expression recognition of children with ADHD by measuring hemodynamic response in the brain. They showed that children with ADHD showed significant hemodynamic response to the happy expression but not to the angry expression. This difference in the neural basis for the recognition of facial expression might be responsible for impairment in social recognition and the establishment of peer-relationships.
Perfectionism is a bigger than perceived risk factor in suicide Perfectionism is a bigger risk factor in suicide than we may think, says York University Psychology Professor Gordon Flett, calling for closer attention to its potential destructiveness, adding that clinical guidelines should include perfectionism as a separate factor for suicide risk assessment and intervention.
	New findings on how brain handles tactile sensations The traditional understanding in neuroscience is that tactile sensations from the skin are only assembled to form a complete experience in the cerebral cortex, the most advanced part of the brain. However, this is challenged by new research findings from Lund University in Sweden that suggest both that other levels in the brain play a greater role than previously thought, and that a larger proportion of the brain's different structures are involved in the perception of touch.
Massive weight loss increases risk of complications in body-shaping surgery Patients who lost more than 100 pounds and those who shed weight through bariatric surgery had the highest risk of complications from later surgical procedures to reshape their leaner bodies, a new study from UT Southwestern Medical Center shows.
Protein controlling gut's protective force field identified Scientists have identified a protein in the human intestine that helps to protect against attack from opportunistic bacteria that strike when our defences are down. The protein receptor is activated during illness, producing a force field on the gut's surface made of a sugary substance that encourages the growth of protective bacteria.
Super enhancers in the inflamed endothelium Normally, the lining of blood vessels, or endothelium, when at rest, acts like Teflon, ignoring the many cells and other factors rushing by in the bloodstream. In response to inflammatory signals, as well as other stimuli, endothelial cells change suddenly and dramatically—sending out beacons to attract inflammatory cells, changing their surface so those cells can stick and enter tissues, and initiating a complex cascade of responses essential to fighting infection and dealing with injury. Unfortunately, these same endothelial responses also promote atherosclerosis, the build-up of plaque in arteries that cause heart attacks, strokes and other inflammatory diseases.
Novel compound prevents metastasis of multiple myeloma in mouse studies In an advance against the problem of cancer metastasis, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists have shown that a specially developed compound can impede multiple myeloma from spreading to the bones in mice. The findings, published in the Sept. 25 issue of Cell Reports, suggest the technique can protect human patients, as well, from one of the most deadly aspects of cancer.
Brain chemical potential new hope in controlling Tourette Syndrome tics A chemical in the brain plays a vital role in controlling the involuntary movements and vocal tics associated with Tourette Syndrome (TS), a new study has shown.
	Spot on against autoimmune diseases and chronic inflammations Multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes and lupus are autoimmune diseases in which the immune cells can no longer differentiate between friend and foe and thus attack the body's own tissue. Here, the immunoproteasome, which supplies the immune system with information on processes within the cell, plays a central role. Chemists at Technische Universität München have now discovered a way to inhibit its functionality, thereby laying the foundation for possible optimizations of existing medications.
Team discovers dual purpose of cancer drug in regulating expression of genes Keck Medicine of USC scientists have discovered new clues about a drug instrumental in treating a certain blood cancer that may provide important targets for researchers searching for cures.
	New study shows that yoga and meditation may help train the brain New research by biomedical engineers at the University of Minnesota shows that people who practice yoga and meditation long term can learn to control a computer with their minds faster and better than people with little or no yoga or meditation experience. The research could have major implications for treatments of people who are paralyzed or have neurodegenerative diseases.
Genes causing pediatric glaucoma contribute to future stroke (Edmonton, AB) Every year in Canada about 50,000 people suffer from a stroke, caused either by the interruption of blood flow or uncontrolled bleeding in the brain. While many environmental risk factors exist, including high blood pressure and smoking, stroke risk is also frequently inherited. Unfortunately, remarkably little is known regarding stroke's genetic basis.
New research outlines promising therapies for small cell lung cancer Two recently published studies by a research team at University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center Seidman Cancer Center have the potential to advance treatments for small cell lung cell cancer (SCLC). This aggressive form of lung cancer has seen no treatment advances in 30 years and "is a disease in urgent need of new drug therapies," write the study's authors.
Coping techniques help patients with COPD improve mentally, physically Coaching patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to manage stress, practice relaxation and participate in light exercise can boost a patient's quality of life and can even improve physical symptoms, researchers at Duke Medicine report.
IU-Regenstrief CHICA system improves developmental delay screening and surveillance Is my child lagging behind physically, mentally or emotionally? Should I be concerned? When should I ask our pediatrician about it? What can I do to help my child?
	Pneumonia bacterium leaves tiny lesions in the heart, study finds The long-observed association between pneumonia and heart failure now has more physical evidence, thanks to research in the School of Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
How the ends of chromosomes are maintained for cancer cell immortality Maintaining the ends of chromosomes, called telomeres, is a requisite feature of cells that are able to continuously divide and also a hallmark of human cancer. "Telomeres are much like the plastic cap on the ends of shoelaces—they keep the ends of DNA from fraying," says Roger Greenberg, MD, PhD, associate professor of Cancer Biology in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. In a new study published this week in Cell, he and his colleagues describe a mechanism for how cancer cells take over one of the processes for telomere maintenance to gain an infinite lifespan.
The ideal age of sexual partners is different for men and women New evolutionary psychology research shows gender differences in age preferences regarding sexual partners.
Deadly 'bath salts' legal high banned across EU The European Union banned Thursday the party drug nicknamed "bath salts" and other so-called legal highs that have been linked to nearly 150 deaths.
	Stem cell transplant does not cure SHIV/AIDS after irradiation of infected rhesus macaques A study published on September 25th in PLOS Pathogens reports a new primate model to test treatments that might cure HIV/AIDS and suggests answers to questions raised by the "Berlin patient", the only human thought to have been cured so far.
Researchers find NAS treatment needs standardization When it comes to treating infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) believe the care for these infants should be consistent and objective, with standardized assessment tools and evidence to back up pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatment choices.
	Genetic 'instruction set' for antibodies knocks down hepatitis C in mice A triple-punch of antibodies both prevented hepatitis C infection and wiped out the disease after it had established itself in laboratory mice, according to a study led by Princeton University researchers. Instead of delivering the three antibodies directly, the researchers administered a genetic "instruction set" that, once in a cell, developed into antibodies that target the portions of the virus that do not mutate.
	Obesity isn't sole cause of type 2 diabetes (HealthDay)—Although the type 2 diabetes epidemic is commonly linked to being overweight or obese, excess weight isn't the only factor driving the trend, new research suggests.
	Boys with autism show certain grammar skills in study (HealthDay)—Boys with high-functioning autism are stronger in a certain grammar skill than those without autism, according to a small study.
	US pledges millions to study ways to ease soldiers' pain (HealthDay)—The U.S. government announced Thursday that it will launch a massive research effort to explore alternative ways of managing chronic pain among members of the military.
	Blood test might predict speed of recovery from surgery (HealthDay)—Measuring the activity of subsets of white blood cells immediately after surgery might reveal which patients are likely to recover quickly and those who won't, a preliminary study suggests. The report was published in the Sept. 24 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
	Half of HIV-positive gay men in US aren't getting proper treatment (HealthDay)—Even though gay and bisexual men make up the majority of Americans infected with HIV, half aren't receiving ongoing care or getting the virus-suppressing drugs they need to stay healthy, a new report finds.
	More HIV+ patients undergoing spinal fusion (HealthDay)—More HIV-positive patients are undergoing spinal fusions, and these patients have higher rates of complications resulting from the procedures, according to a study published in the Sept. 15 issue of Spine.
	Kidney disease doesn't bar thrombolytic therapy in stroke (HealthDay)—Intravenous (IV) thrombolytic therapy for acute ischemic stroke (IS) is not contraindicated in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to research published online Sept. 23 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
Widespread vitamin D deficiency in thyroidectomy patients A new study from researchers at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit finds widespread vitamin D deficiency among patients who undergo a thyroidectomy, potentially putting them at greater risk for developing dangerously low blood calcium levels after surgery.
	After watching disturbing video, CPAP usage soars Like more than 20 million other Americans, John Brugger has been diagnosed with sleep apnea. He snored, tossed and turned and struggled to breathe during the night, which often left him not only exhausted the next day but also raised his risk of heart attack, stroke and car accidents. Fed up, Brugger went to his doctor, who suggested he use a CPAP machine, which delivers air through a face mask while he sleeps to keep his throat open with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).
	Gastric bypass bests banding for weight loss, diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol control Gastric bypass surgery has better outcomes than gastric banding for long-term weight loss, controlling type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, and lowering cholesterol levels, according to a new review by UT Southwestern Medical Center surgeons of nearly 30 long-term studies comparing the two types of bariatric procedures.
Bariatric surgery not a magic wand to curb depression Most severely obese people experience much better spirits once they shed weight through a diet, lifestyle changes or medical intervention. This is unfortunately not true for everyone, says Valentina Ivezaj and Carlos Grilo of the Yale University School of Medicine in the US. In an article in Springer's journal Obesity Surgery, the researchers advise that the levels of depression in patients be measured six to 12 months after they have had such bariatric surgery. This will ensure that the necessary help can be provided when needed.
	Tropical disease prevalence in Latin America presents opportunity for US, expert says Recently published prevalence estimates of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in five Latin American countries—Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Venezuela—could suggest a new direction for United States foreign policy in the region, according to a tropical-disease expert at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy.
	Marijuana legalization effort begins in California A U.S. marijuana advocacy group took steps Wednesday to begin raising money for a campaign to legalize recreational pot use in California in 2016, a move with potential to add a dose of extra excitement to the presidential election year.
France's Sanofi opens research hub in China French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi opened a research hub in Shanghai Thursday, the company said, as foreign drug firms face government scrutiny after drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) was found guilty of bribery last week.
Nigeria Ebola free, president tells UN President Goodluck Jonathan appeared to jump the gun on medical advice at home on Wednesday to tell an applauding UN General Assembly that Nigeria was free of the deadly Ebola virus.
Sierra Leone quarantines one million ahead of UN Ebola talks Sierra Leone began a quarantine of more than one million people Thursday in the largest open-ended lockdown in the Ebola outbreak, as world leaders met to discuss the crisis at the United Nations.
Human papilloma virus vaccination provides long-term protection Every year, 11.2 of every 100 000 women in Germany develop cervical cancer. Persistent infection with a high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) type is a necessary prerequisite for the development of dysplasia and neoplasia of the cervix. HPV vaccination has been a subject of heated debate since it was incorporated into the vaccination recommendations of the German Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) in 2007. This edition of Deutsches Ärzteblatt International reveals that Yvonne Deleré of Berlin's Robert Koch Institute et al. have produced a systematic review that shows no decrease in protection over a period of five years following vaccination against HPV types 16 and 18.
Appropriate exercise therapy can alleviate symptoms of osteoarthritis of the hip Osteoarthritis of the hip is a progressive degenerative disorder affecting the hip joints, which affects one in 10 adults. The symptoms range from pain after intense joint loading to morning pain/stiffness and impaired mobility in everyday life. To date, no cure exists. Appropriate exercise therapy can, however, delay progression of the disease and alleviate symptoms, as shown in a randomized controlled study reported by Inga Krauß et al in Deutsches Ärzteblatt.
Population-level behavior change to enhance child survival and development in low- and middle-income countries Routledge announces OPEN ACESS availability to a very special supplemental issue of Journal of Health Communication: International Perspectives titled Population-Level Behavior Change to Enhance Child Survival and Development in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Review of the Evidence. This OPEN ACCESS issue is sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and features several authors affiliated with USAID and UNICEF, as well as university faculty and development professionals with experience in low- and middle-income countries.
New light on Southern European healthcare systems in the economic crisis Very few matters draw as much public attention as the ongoing debate surrounding national healthcare services. When we speak of even the most basic access to medicines and cures - particularly sensitive topics during times of economic crises - political interference and private interests have dominated much of the discourse.
	Dengue fever and malaria in the Himalayas Research by Nepalese and German scientists from the Nepal Health Research Council, Goethe University and the LOEWE Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre analyzes the current situation of these diseases in the Himalayan country of Nepal and highlights how they profit from climate change and globalization.
	A multi-million dollar fight to save women's lives A new medicine to prevent the death of tens of thousands of women every year because of a fatal loss of blood after childbirth, is within sight as a result of a multi-million dollar partnership.
	More support to keep youth care leavers out of criminal justice system Few young people transitioning out of state care at 18 are ready to live independently and more support is needed to keep them from entering the youth justice system, according to a new Monash University report.
	20 years of leptin – the obesity related hormone 2014 marks the 20th anniversary of the discovery of leptin – the hormone that tells our brains when we've eaten enough and the first reported genetic basis for obesity. The discovery will be celebrated this month in a special edition of the Journal of Endocrinology devoted to the hormone.
	Understanding ambiguities in depth perception Binocular vision allows us to gauge depth. For example a dot directly ahead of the left eye will be at an angle to the right that decreases with distance. So how, ask Eiichi Mitsukura and Shunji Satoh at the University of Electro-Communications in Tokyo, can we estimate the depth of black or white paper? With no pattern or texture on the paper there should be no way of determining its contours. They turned to the computational tools used for filling in blind spots for an answer.
	New app offers relief for hay fever sufferers Hay fever and asthma sufferers in Canberra will soon be able to receive daily counts and forecasts of pollen levels thanks to a free app released by ANU researchers.
	New home guide to help 'overwhelmed' dementia carers Berkshire Healthcare and the University of Reading have teamed up to produce a new clear and accessible guide to support people who care for those with dementia.
NCI/FDA lung cancer workshop leads to the innovatively designed clinical trials The recent launch of two clinical trials offer innovative study designs for patients with lung cancer. These clinical trials are the direct result of a National Cancer Institute (NCI) sponsored workshop chaired by Drs. Fred R. Hirsch, Shakun Malik and Claudio Dansky- Ullman, that brought together the NCI Thoracic Malignancies Steering Committee, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), academicians, clinicians as well as industry and government stakeholders to discuss issues and challenges related to clinical trial design and biomarkers for lung cancer targeted-therapies.
Ebola death toll swells to 2,917 out of 6,263 cases: WHO The world's worst-ever Ebola epidemic has now infected nearly 6,300 people in West Africa and killed nearly half of them, according to World Health Organization figures released Thursday.
France introduces plain packs to stub out high smoking rates France said Thursday it would introduce plain cigarette packaging and ban electronic cigarettes in certain public places, in a bid to reduce high smoking rates among the under-16s.
Valeant pitches potential eye drug, research focus Valeant Pharmaceuticals is drawing attention to a potential glaucoma treatment and its focus on product development, as the Canadian drugmaker continues to build its case to investors for a takeover of Botox-maker Allergan.
Risk of esophageal cancer decreases with height Taller individuals are less likely to develop esophageal cancer and it's precursor, Barrett's esophagus, according to a new study1 in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association.
Eighth death from Legionnaire's disease in Spain An eighth person has died from the lung infection Legionnaire's disease in northeastern Spain, where two separate outbreaks have struck this month, officials said Thursday.
Brothers behind Lap-Band ads sued UnitedHealth Group Inc. has sued two brothers who ran a company that promoted Lap-Band weight-loss surgery, accusing the pair of defrauding the insurer of more than $40 million through a complex billing scheme.
World urged to do more to battle Ebola World leaders were asked Thursday to pledge urgently needed aid to battle Ebola in West Africa as Sierra Leone quarantined one million people in a desperate bid to beat back the deadly virus.
Viral infection in transplant recipients increases risk of developing damaging antibodies Kidney transplant recipients infected with BK virus are more likely to develop antibodies against their kidney transplants than uninfected patients, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). Future treatment strategies should focus on simultaneously clearing BK infections while protecting against risks of transplant rejection.
Not all Hispanics are the same when it comes to drinking Hispanics are often grouped into a single category when it comes to alcohol use. Yet a new Michigan State University study indicates that the risk of alcohol abuse and dependence can vary significantly among different subgroups within the population.
	Drivers admit to risky behaviors In a state famous for its turnpike and infamous for traffic, tolls and "Jersey drivers," a new partnership between the Rutgers-Eagleton Poll and Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS) has launched a series of public health polls with a survey about risky driving habits. New Jerseyans were asked about their perceptions of safety both as a driver and passenger.
UN confronts deadly Ebola epidemic World leaders gathered at the United Nations heard dire warnings and desperate pleas for assistance Thursday as the deadly Ebola virus forced Sierra Leone to quarantine a million people.
	Pharmaceutical startup creates prefabricated drug dosages to support patient-centric medicine Officials of a pharmaceutical startup based on a Purdue University innovation say their company is creating prefabricated drug dosages that could be used by compounding pharmacists to support patient-centered medicine.

---

This email is a free service of Phys.org
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
(.......)
You are subscribed as pascal.alter@gmail.com