Fwd: Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Sep 23

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Wed, Sep 24, 2014 at 2:21 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Sep 23
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for September 23, 2014:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Scientists uncover clues to ATP mystery and how cells work
- Enabling bendable optoelectronics devices: Gallium nitride micro-rods grown on graphene substrates
- Future flexible electronics based on carbon nanotubes: Improving nanotube transistor performance with fluoropolymers
- Study finds link between beat synchronization in preschoolers and learning reading skills
- Nanotubes help healing hearts keep the beat
- XPRIZE announces Global Learning XPRIZE—$15 million competition to disrupt education
- Smart meters could cause conflict for housemates, study shows
- Narwhal tusk length linked to testes mass suggesting its purpose is for attracting females
- Could suburban sprawl be good for segregation? Low-density neighborhoods more likely to stay integrated
- Recreating the stripe patterns found in animals by engineering synthetic gene networks
- Presence or absence of early language delay alters anatomy of the brain in autism
- 'Dynamical glucometry' may uncover fundamental new ways of understanding diabetes, its treatment
- Search for better biofuels microbes leads to the human gut
- Researchers uncover properties in nanocomposite oxide ceramics for reactor fuel
- A 3D-printed laptop prepared for crowdfunding campaign

Astronomy & Space news

	Indian spacecraft on course to enter Mars orbit (Update) India will soon know if its first interplanetary mission will achieve its goal, when a spacecraft built with homegrown technology for a remarkably low price tag of $75 million begins its final maneuvers into orbit around Mars.
	'Space bubbles' may have aided enemy in fatal Afghan battle In the early morning hours of March 4, 2002, military officers in Bagram, Afghanistan desperately radioed a Chinook helicopter headed for the snowcapped peak of Takur Ghar. On board were 21 men, deployed to rescue a team of Navy SEALS pinned down on the ridge dividing the Upper and Lower Shahikot valley. The message was urgent: Do not land on the peak. The mountaintop was under enemy control.
	SpaceX cargo capsule nears International Space Station SpaceX's unmanned Dragon spacecraft was nearing the International Space Station on Tuesday with a cargo of supplies, including freeze-dried meals, 20 live lab mice and a 3D printer.
	Image: A cosmic hurricane The giant planet Saturn is mostly a gigantic ball of rotating gas, completely unlike our solid home planet. But Earth and Saturn do have something in common: weather, although the gas giant is home to some of the most bizarre weather in our Solar System, such as the swirling storm shown in this Cassini view.
	Dragon arrives at space station with 3-D printer The International Space Station accepted another SpaceX shipment Tuesday, this one containing the first 3-D printer ever launched into orbit.
	Measuring the proper motion of a galaxy The motion of a star relative to us can be determined by measuring two quantities, radial motion and proper motion. Radial motion is the motion of a star along our line of sight. That is, motion directly toward us or away from us. Proper motion is the change in angular position of the star, from which we can calculate the motion perpendicular to the line of sight (known as transverse motion. You can see how this works by imagining someone walking through a room. If we know the rate at which the person is walking toward us or away from us (radial motion) and their movement relative to the far wall (proper motion), then we can use a bit of simple geometry to calculate their path through the room.With stars, it turns out that the radial motion is easiest to measure. Stars don't give off a continuous spectrum of light, but instead have dark gaps within their spectra (known as absorption lines). The pattern of these gaps have a specific pattern depending on the type of atom or molecule doing the absorbing. We can observe these patterns in the lab and compare them to the patterns seen in starlight. What we find is that the starlight patterns are slightly different colors. The pattern is either redder than we observe in the lab (redshifted) or bluer (blueshifted).
How ancient impacts made mining practical About 1.85 billion years ago, in what would come to be known as Sudbury Canada, a 10 kilometer wide asteroid struck with such energy that it created an impact crater 250 kilometers wide. Today the chief industry of Sudbury is mining, all because of that ancient impact. In fact much of the mining industry is possible because of asteroid impacts in Earth's early history.
	Image: NGC 6872 in the constellation of Pavo This picture, taken by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope's Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2), shows a galaxy known as NGC 6872 in the constellation of Pavo (The Peacock). Its unusual shape is caused by its interactions with the smaller galaxy that can be seen just above NGC 6872, called IC 4970. They both lie roughly 300 million light-years away from Earth.
	Scientific instruments of Rosetta's Philae lander When traveling to far off lands, one packs carefully. What you carry must be comprehensive but not so much that it is a burden. And once you arrive, you must be prepared to do something extraordinary to make the long journey worthwhile.
	The difference between CMEs and solar flares This is a question we are often asked: what is the difference between a coronal mass ejection (CME) and a solar flare? We discussed it in a recent astrophoto post, but today NASA put out a video with amazing graphics that explains it—and visualizes it—extremely well.
	Getting to the root of the problem in space When we go to Mars, will astronauts be able to grow enough food there to maintain a healthy diet? Will they be able to produce food in NASA's Orion spacecraft on the year-long trip to Mars? How about growing food on Earth under extreme conditions? These are questions scientists are trying to answer by observing plant growth in microgravity on the International Space Station (ISS).
	Asteroid named for University of Utah makes public debut What's rocky, about a mile wide, orbits between Mars and Jupiter and poses no threat to Earth?
	Public consultation on space weather - how should we prepare? A public consultation on space weather, an area of interest to many RAS Fellows, is currently under way.

Medicine & Health news

	Study finds link between beat synchronization in preschoolers and learning reading skills (Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers with Northwestern University in the U.S. has found that an ability to synchronize with a beat may be an indication of how well preschoolers will later do when developing reading skills. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team describes a study they undertook that involved testing for beat synchronization and sound recognition in preschoolers and what they found as a result.
	Presence or absence of early language delay alters anatomy of the brain in autism A new study led by researchers from the University of Cambridge has found that a common characteristic of autism – language delay in early childhood – leaves a 'signature' in the brain. The results are published today (23 September) in the journal Cerebral Cortex.
A multi-function protein is key to stopping genomic parasites from 'jumping' Most organisms, including humans, have parasitic DNA fragments called "jumping genes" that insert themselves into DNA molecules, disrupting genetic instructions in the process. And that phenomenon can result in age-related diseases such as cancer. But researchers at the University of Rochester now report that the "jumping genes" in mice become active as the mice age when a multi-function protein stops keeping them in check in order to take on another role.
	Brain encodes time and place of taste memory Have you ever eaten something totally new and it made you sick? Don't give up; if you try the same food in a different place, your brain will be more "forgiving" of the new attempt. In a new study conducted by the Sagol Department of Neurobiology at the University of Haifa, researchers found for the first time that there is a link between the areas of the brain responsible for taste memory in a negative context and those areas in the brain responsible for processing the memory of the time and location of the sensory experience. When we experience a new taste without a negative context, this link doesn't exist.
	Immune system is key ally in cyberwar against cancer (Medical Xpress)—Research by Rice University scientists who are fighting a cyberwar against cancer finds that the immune system may be a clinician's most powerful ally.
	Brain wave may be used to detect what people have seen, recognize Brain activity can be used to tell whether someone recognizes details they encountered in normal, daily life, which may have implications for criminal investigations and use in courtrooms, new research shows.
	'Dynamical glucometry' may uncover fundamental new ways of understanding diabetes, its treatment For millions of people in the United States living with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, measuring the daily rise and fall of blood glucose (sugar) is a way of life.
	Dying brain cells cue new brain cells to grow in songbird Brain cells that multiply to help birds sing their best during breeding season are known to die back naturally later in the year. For the first time researchers have described the series of events that cues new neuron growth each spring, and it all appears to start with a signal from the expiring cells the previous fall that primes the brain to start producing stem cells.
Critically ill ICU patients lose almost all of their gut microbesand the ones left aren't good Researchers at the University of Chicago have shown that after a long stay in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) only a handful of pathogenic microbe species remain behind in patients' intestines. The team tested these remaining pathogens and discovered that some can become deadly when provoked by conditions that mimic the body's stress response to illness.
Federal food program puts food on the table, but dietary quality could be improved A new American Cancer Society study suggests that participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), previously known as the food stamp program, had lower dietary quality scores compared with income eligible non-participants. The authors say the findings emphasize the need to bolster programs aimed at enhancing the dietary quality of SNAP participants.
75 years after his death, Vienna struggles with Freud Even before Sigmund Freud fled Hitler on the Orient Express from Vienna in June 1938, the father of psychoanalysis and his ideas about sex, dreams and cocaine divided opinion in the Austrian capital.
Ebola cases to explode without drastic action: WHO (Update) The number of Ebola infections is set to explode unless the response is radically intensified, the WHO warned on Tuesday, predicting tens of thousands of cases by the end of the year.
Aberrant PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway found in vestibular schwanommas may be therapeutic target Researchers from the University of Toronto, directed by Drs. Gelareh Zadeh and Boris Krischek, investigated gene expression in normal vestibular nerves and vestibular schwannomas (VSs). Two important discoveries were made: 1) there is negligible difference between VSs that sporadically occur and those commonly associated with neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2), a genetic disorder; and 2) the overexpressed PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in these tumors may be an excellent therapeutic target. Detailed findings of this study are reported and discussed in "Gene-expression profiling elucidates molecular signaling networks that can be therapeutically targeted in vestibular schwannoma," by Sameer Agnihotri and colleagues, published today online, ahead of print, in the Journal of Neurosurgery.
	Discovery of a new therapeutic target to fight against Legionella Science is tightening the net around Legionella. A study conducted by the Basque Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences, CIC bioGUNE, in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH, USA) and the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), has discovered that the bacteria releases the VipD protein when infecting human cells, thus preventing their destruction. This protein could become a target for future drugs to prevent the bacteria from causing infection.
	Lost protein could prevent hardening of the arteries (Medical Xpress)—Researchers have found that when the protein matrix metalloproteinase-14 (MMP-14) is reduced or lost, white blood cells, known as macrophages, become good and could prevent hardening of the arteries, rupture and sudden death.
	Fruit and vegetable consumption could be as good for your mental as your physical health (Medical Xpress)—Fruit and vegetable consumption could be as good for your mental as your physical health, new research suggests.
Medical students who previously attended community college more likely to serve in poor communities The community college system represents a potential source of student diversity for medical schools and physicians who will serve poor communities; however, there are significant challenges to enhancing the pipeline from community colleges to four-year universities to medical schools. The authors recommend that medical school and four-year university recruitment, outreach and admissions practices be more inclusive of community college students.
	Nursing improvements could boost outcomes for underweight black newborns The health outcomes and quality of care for underweight black infants could greatly improve with more nurses on staff at hospitals with higher concentrations of black patients, according to a new study co-led by a Rutgers researcher.
	Gene linked to development of skin cancer in mice (Medical Xpress)—New research on an enzyme linked to cancer development shows that 37 percent of mice that produce excessive quantities of the enzyme developed skin tumors within four to 12 months of birth, and many of these growths progressed to highly invasive squamous cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer.
	'The process by which drugs are discovered and developed will be fundamentally different in the future' (Medical Xpress)—Before joining Washington University in St. Louis, Michael Kinch, PhD, was managing director of the Center for Molecular Discovery at Yale University. "A few years ago, to motivate the team I gave them what's called a Big Hairy Audacious Goal (a B-HAG)," Kinch says. The B-HAG was many-headed but one of the heads was to make a collection of all FDA-approved drugs. The idea was that the collection would serve as a screening library for drug repurposing.
Study identifies potential drug combination for mantle cell lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia Using the molecularly targeted drug ibrutinib (Imbruvica) together with the investigational anticancer agent ABT-199 may improve outcomes for patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), according to preclinical data presented at the American Association for Cancer Research special conference, Hematologic Malignancies: Translating Discoveries to Novel Therapies, held Sept. 20-23.
Inhibitor of RNA polymerase I shows promise as potential treatment for acute myeloid leukemia and multiple myeloma The investigational drug CX-5461, which blocks the protein RNA polymerase I (Pol I), prolonged survival in mouse models of highly aggressive acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and multiple myeloma, according to data presented at the American Association for Cancer Research special conference Hematologic Malignancies: Translating Discoveries to Novel Therapies, held Sept. 20-23.
Drugs approved to treat other cancer types may improve treatment outcome for a type of childhood leukemia Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) may improve treatment outcome for children and young adults with Ph-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph-like ALL), a disease with dismal prognosis, according to data presented at the American Association for Cancer Research special conference Hematologic Malignancies: Translating Discoveries to Novel Therapies, held Sept. 20-23.
Study finds a new approach to tackle drug resistance in hematologic malignancies Treating hematologic malignancies upfront with a combination of drugs based on the vulnerabilities of tumors as they evolve may be a viable strategy to avoid drug resistance, according to data presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) special conference Hematologic Malignancies: Translating Discoveries to Novel Therapies, held Sept. 20-23.
New type of targeted therapy shows promise in preclinical models of B-cell malignancy An investigational, bacterial toxin-based therapy targeted to the protein CD38, which is found on the surface of many human blood cancer cells, including multiple myeloma cells, dramatically increased survival in mice bearing human tumor cells, according to data presented at the American Association for Cancer Research special conference, Hematologic Malignancies: Translating Discoveries to Novel Therapies, held Sept. 20-23.
	World-first study proves low-cost home modifications prevent falls (Medical Xpress)—Falls in the home could be reduced by a quarter according to the results of a new study just published online in top international medical journal The Lancet.
Does the belief in guardian angels make people more cautious? While many believe that guardian angels watch over to keep them safe in a dangerous world, a new study finds that those who believe are actually less inclined to take risks despite this believed protection. This study was published today in the open access journal SAGE Open.
	Researchers develop new DNA sequencing method to diagnose tuberculosis Researchers working in the UK and The Gambia, have developed a new approach to the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) that relies on direct sequencing of DNA extracted from sputum (a technique called metagenomics) to detect and characterize the bacteria that cause TB without the need for time-consuming culture of bacteria in the laboratory.
Researcher uses MRI to measure joint's geometry and role in severe knee injury The successful rise and fall of an athlete's moving body relies on an orchestrated response of bones, joints, ligaments and tendons, putting the many angles and intersecting planes – literally the geometry – of a critical part like a knee joint to the test. But it's more than just a footfall error at the root of one of the most devastating of sports injuries: the ACL or anterior cruciate ligament tear. In fact, size – of the femoral notch that sits at the center of the knee joint – and volume of the ACL combine to influence the risk of suffering a noncontact ACL injury. Additional geometric characteristics of the knee, such as the slope of the articular surfaces, are involved with risk of injury.
	Big data and full-genome analysis not all they're cracked up to be Walter Gilbert won the Nobel Prize in 1980 in Chemistry for his contribution to sequence DNA, or "determination of base sequences in a nucleic acid". Mohit Kumar Jolly, researcher at Rice University and contributor to The Conversation, interviewed him at the 2014 Lindau Nobel Laureates Meeting.
	Pressure from providers leads some women to have C-sections, inductions Pregnant women who felt pressured to have a labor induction or cesarean section by their obstetrical care providers were significantly more likely to have these procedures, even if there was no medical need for them, suggests a new study in Health Services Research.
	Trials of novel Ebola drugs to be fast-tracked in West Africa Potential new treatments for Ebola are to be tested in West Africa for the first time as part of an international initiative to fast-track trials of the most promising drugs against the disease that has already led to over 2,600 deaths.
	Brown rice offers more benefits in a healthy diet Researchers at the University of Adelaide are urging Australians to consume brown or black rice, instead of white rice, as part of a healthy diet.
Lifestyle changes and new technology can ease elders' lives If we embrace lifestyle changes and new technology, we improve our prospects of staying healthy in old age, getting good care and reducing our dependence on others. This is the message of a new report summarizing the conclusions from the Uppsala Health Summit in June.
	Video blinds us to the evidence, study finds Where people look when watching video evidence varies wildly and has profound consequences for bias in legal punishment decisions, a team of researchers at New York University and Yale Law School has found. This study raises questions about why people fail to be objective when confronted with video evidence.
	Fast facts about cutting boards and food safety in your kitchen Anything that touches your food can be a source of contamination and foodborne illness – including cutting boards.
	New approach aims to silence cancer 'survival genes' Scientists at the University of York are working on a promising new approach for tackling colorectal cancer, the second most common cause of cancer-related death.
Study of single parents' dating, sexual activity contradicts assumptions Contrary to what is often assumed about single parents, particularly single parents of young children, a new study from The Kinsey Institute has found that single parents of children younger than 5 date and are sexually active as often as singles without children—and more so than single parents of older children.
	Noninvasive devices may help migraines, FDA says (HealthDay)—Two new prescription devices approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may provide some relief for people with migraine headaches who don't tolerate migraine medications well, according to a new study.
	Health woes to worsen due to climate change, study warns (HealthDay)—Coupled with worldwide marches demanding action on climate change, a new study warns that rising temperatures and altered weather patterns in the United States may soon exacerbate many existing health risks.
	Screen women for chlamydia, gonorrhea, experts say (HealthDay)—All sexually active women should be screened for two of the most common sexually transmitted infections: chlamydia and gonorrhea, according to new recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
	Behavioral counseling urged for teens, young adults at risk for STDs (HealthDay)—Teens and young adults at risk for sexually transmitted infections should undergo "intensive" behavioral counseling to help prevent risky sexual behaviors, according to new recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
	NIH adds $10M to encourage gender balance in clinical trials (HealthDay)—The U.S. National Institutes of Health is investing $10 million in additional funding in scientific trials to encourage researchers to consider gender in their preclinical and clinical studies.
	One in 15 family docs focus time on emergency/urgent care (HealthDay)—Approximately one in 15 family physicians spend at least 80 percent of their time in emergency or urgent care, with higher percentages seen for doctors in rural areas, according to a report published by the American Academy of Family Physicians. The findings were published in the July-August issue of the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine.
	Airway muscle-on-a-chip mimics asthma The majority of drugs used to treat asthma today are the same ones that were used 50 years ago. New drugs are urgently needed to treat this chronic respiratory disease, which causes nearly 25 million people in the United States alone to wheeze, cough, and find it difficult at best to take a deep breath.
FDA warns doctors to beware fake drug distributors U.S. health regulators are trying to help doctors spot counterfeit and unapproved drugs by raising awareness of illegal operations that peddle bogus drugs to health professionals.
	New research suggests sleep apnea screening before surgery Scheduled for surgery? New research suggests that you may want to get screened and treated for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) before going under the knife. According to a first-of-its-kind study in the October issue of Anesthesiology, the official medical journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists® (ASA®), patients with OSA who are diagnosed and treated for the condition prior to surgery are less likely to develop serious cardiovascular complications such as cardiac arrest or shock.
Team finds method for more precise diagnosis of pneumonia A patient survives life-threatening trauma, is intubated in the intensive care unit (ICU) to support his or her affected vital functions, starts to recover, and then develops pneumonia. It's a scenario well-known to physicians, who understand that the development of ventilator-associated pneumonia in critically ill patients often results in significant morbidity, mortality, and additional health care costs.
	Study uncovers genetic driver of inflammation, uses it to prevent and treat liver cancer Inflammation has been shown to be a driving force behind many chronic diseases, especially liver cancer, which often develops due to chronic inflammation caused by conditions such as viral hepatitis or alcoholism and has relatively few effective treatment options. Now, scientists at Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center have demonstrated for the first time in preclinical studies that blocking the expression of a gene known as astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) halts the development and progression of liver cancer by regulating inflammation. This research could impact not only the treatment of liver cancer, but many inflammation-associated diseases.
	Life, liberty, and the pursuit of healthcare? "Obamacare"—was signed into law in 2010 and promised the largest overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system since the 1960s. Designed to provide medical care to uninsured Americans, it has been widely decried as an unwarranted intrusion into the affairs of private businesses and individuals.
	Lack of sleep increases risk of failure in school A new Swedish study shows that adolescents who suffer from sleep disturbance or habitual short sleep duration are less likely to succeed academically compared to those who enjoy a good night's sleep. The results have recently been published in the journal Sleep Medicine.
Gene mutation discovered in blood disorder An international team of scientists has identified a gene mutation that causes aplastic anemia, a serious blood disorder in which the bone marrow fails to produce normal amounts of blood cells. Studying a family in which three generations had blood disorders, the researchers discovered a defect in a gene that regulates telomeres, chromosomal structures with crucial roles in normal cell function.
Advancing the understanding of an understudied food allergy disorder Investigators at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center have published the first study to extensively characterize eosinophilic gastritis (EG). The study, published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, found that EG is a systemic disorder that has high levels of eosinophils in the blood and gastrointestinal tract, involves a series of allergy-associated-immune mechanisms and has a gene expression pattern (transcriptome) that is distinct from that of a related disorder, eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE).
	Beating stress outdoors? Nature group walks may improve mental health They are common suggestions to remedy stress: You just need a breath of fresh air. Walk it off. Get out and see people.
	Mother-infant bed sharing messaging should be tailored, researcher says Bed sharing, a practice where mother and infant sleep on the same surface, remains popular all over the world despite potential health risks for the infant. According to a new University of Georgia study, bed sharing can likely be decreased if public health officials tailor messaging to their unique population.
	US warns Ebola could infect 1.4 million by 2015 The number of Ebola infections in Liberia and Sierra Leone could skyrocket to 1.4 million by January 2015, according to a worst-case scenario released by US health authorities Tuesday.
Microbiologists discover regulatory thermometer that controls cholera Karl Klose, professor of biology and a researcher in UTSA's South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, has teamed up with researchers at Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany to understand how humans get infected with cholera, Their findings were released this week in an article published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Study finds gallbladder surgery can wait Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, a minimally invasive procedure to remove the gallbladder, is one of the most common abdominal surgeries in the U.S. Yet medical centers around the country vary in their approaches to the procedure with some moving patients quickly into surgery while others wait.
	Note to young men: Fat doesn't pay Men who are already obese as teenagers could grow up to earn up to 18 percent less than their peers of normal weight. So says Petter Lundborg of Lund University, Paul Nystedt of Jönköping University and Dan-olof Rooth of Linneas University and Lund University, all in Sweden. The team compared extensive information from Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States, and the results are published in Springer's journal Demography.
	Facial masculinity not always a telling factor in mate selection Women living where rates of infectious disease are high, according to theory, prefer men with faces that shout testosterone when choosing a mate. However, an international study says not so much, says University of Oregon anthropologist Lawrence S. Sugiyama.
'Brain Breaks' increase activity, educational performance in elementary schools A recent Oregon survey about an exercise DVD that adds short breaks of physical activity into the daily routine of elementary school students found it had a high level of popularity with both students and teachers, and offered clear advantages for overly sedentary educational programs.
Boost in quest for TB breath test A simple breath test may one day show whether someone has a strain of tuberculosis that will respond to a frontline antibiotic, or a drug-resistant type, scientists said Tuesday.
Study explores drug users' opinions on genetic testing Genomic medicine is rapidly developing, bringing with its advances promises of individualized genetic information to tailor and optimize prevention and treatment interventions. Genetic tests are already guiding treatments of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis c virus (HPC), and emerging research is showing genetic variants may be used to screen for an individual's susceptibility to addiction to a substance, and even inform treatments for addiction.
First drink to first drunk Although starting to drink at an early age is one of the most frequently studied risk factors for subsequent heavy drinking and related negative outcomes, findings have been inconsistent. An alternative indicator of risk may be quickly progressing from initial alcohol use to drinking to the point of intoxication. This study evaluated the risk associated with age of onset (AO) of drinking and delay to first intoxication in a high-school sample, finding that both an early AO and a quick progression to drinking to intoxication were associated with high-school student alcohol use and binge drinking.
	Developing 'tissue chip' to screen neurological toxins A multidisciplinary team at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Morgridge Institute for Research is creating a faster, more affordable way to screen for neural toxins, helping flag chemicals that may harm human development.
Slight alterations in microRNA sequences hold more information than previously thought Researchers have encountered variants or isoforms in microRNAs (miRNAs) before, but assumed that these variants were accidental byproducts. A recent study, published in the journal Oncotarget this month, shows that certain so called isomiRs have abundances that depend on geographic subpopulations and gender and that the most prevalent variant of a given miRNA may not be the one typically listed in the public databases.
Effect of intervention, removal of costs, on prenatal genetic testing An intervention for pregnant women that included a computerized, interactive decision-support guide regarding prenatal genetic testing, and no cost for testing, resulted in less prenatal test use and more informed choices, according to a study in the September 24 issue of JAMA.
Rate of diabetes in US may be leveling off Following a doubling of the incidence and prevalence of diabetes in the U.S. from 1990-2008, new data suggest a plateauing of the rate between 2008 and 2012 for adults, however the incidence continued to increase in Hispanic and non-Hispanic black adults, according to a study in the September 24 issue of JAMA.
Alcohol-evoked drinking sensations differ among people as a function of genetic variation Taste strongly influences food and beverage intake, including alcohol. Furthermore, genetic variation in chemosensory genes can explain variability in individual perception of and preference for alcoholic drinks. A new study has examined the relationship between variation in alcohol-related sensations and polymorphisms in bitter taste receptors genes previously linked to alcohol intake, and for the first time, polymorphisms in a burn receptor gene. The findings indicate that genetic variations in taste receptors influence intensity perceptions.
Higher cigarette taxes and stronger smoke-free policies may reduce alcohol consumption Smoking and drinking are often complementary behaviors: smokers are more likely than non-smokers to drink alcohol, and heavy smokers are more likely to be heavy drinkers. While increasing state cigarette excise taxes and strengthening smoke-free air laws are known to reduce smoking prevalence, it is less clear if such policies may also reduce alcohol use. A new study has found that increases in state cigarette prices and restrictions on indoor smoking can lead to decreases in state per capita consumption of beer and spirits, but not wine.
Stop taking patients in cardiac arrest to hospital, says expert It's time to stop taking patients in cardiac arrest to hospital and let ambulance crews deliver the best possible care at the scene, argues a senior UK doctor in The BMJ this week. But a senior US doctor warns that avoiding ambulance transport could result in unacceptable deaths.
	Infant cooing, babbling linked to hearing ability Infants' vocalizations throughout the first year follow a set of predictable steps from crying and cooing to forming syllables and first words. However, previous research had not addressed how the amount of vocalizations may differ between hearing and deaf infants. Now, University of Missouri research shows that infant vocalizations are primarily motivated by infants' ability to hear their own babbling. Additionally, infants with profound hearing loss who received cochlear implants to help correct their hearing soon reached the vocalization levels of their hearing peers, putting them on track for language development.
Blood test for yeast infections approved (HealthDay)—The first blood test to detect five strains of yeast that cause rare blood infections in people with weakened immune systems has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
	Report identifies game changers for US health care (HealthDay)—Imagine if doctors and hospitals got paid for providing better care, not more care, and consumers had better data for making informed health choices.
	Joint effort in standardizing due date estimation (HealthDay)—The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine have jointly released new recommendations for estimating gestational age and the anticipated due date for pregnant women. The Committee Opinion has been published in the October issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	Chikungunya fever identified in the United States (HealthDay)—Chikungunya fever is being seen in travelers returning to the United States from affected regions and should be considered as a diagnosis for febrile travelers, according to an ideas and opinions piece published online Sept. 23 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Australian patient tests negative for Ebola (Update) A patient who was being treated as a suspected Ebola case at an Australian hospital tested negative for the disease on Tuesday, the hospital said.
	Lessons learned six months into worst Ebola outbreak Six months into the biggest-ever Ebola outbreak, scientists say they know more about how the deadly virus behaves. The first cases were reported in Guinea by the World Health Organization on March 23—before spreading to Sierra Leone, Liberia and elsewhere. Here's a look at what scientists have learned so far.
Making light work of the workload for overworked healthcare workers Modern hospitals are staffed by overworked and overstressed healthcare workers, according to a research paper published in the International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology. As such, new technology must be implemented to reduce the number of treatment errors that arise because of this.
Clinical relationships key to treatment of alcohol abuse New research from the University of Adelaide highlights the complex needs of people being treated for alcohol problems, in particular the value they place on long-term relationships with trusted healthcare professionals.
Everyday activities focus of healthy ageing study New research aimed at better understanding healthy ageing among older South Australians is due to begin next month thanks to a new partnership with an aged care services provider.
AWHONN recommends reducing overuse of labor induction The Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) is calling upon healthcare providers and pregnant women to avoid induction of labor at any time during pregnancy unless it is medically necessary.
New measure provides more data on oxygen levels during sedation The "area under the curve of oxygen desaturation" (AUCDesat) may provide a more sophisticated approach to monitoring blood oxygen levels during procedures using sedation, according to a study published in Anesthesia & Analgesia.
Safe passages into adulthood: Preventing gender-based violence and its consequences Gender-based violence affects the physical and mental health of girls and boys, men and women worldwide. A recent study by researchers from the Institute for Reproductive Health at Georgetown University addresses the challenge of developing effective strategies to change inequitable and harmful social norms that result in gender-based violence.
XenOPAT, mouse models for personalized cancer treatment On September 8th, the company XenOPAT SL, a spin-off of the Institute of Biomedical Research (IDIBELL) and the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO) was established with the aim of bringing the company the latest scientific developments to the service combating cancer with two main branches: the development of new drugs and advance the implementation of personalized cancer treatments.
Ebola death toll climbs to 2,811 out of 5,864 cases: WHO The deadliest Ebola epidemic on record has now infected almost 6,000 people in west Africa and killed nearly half of them, according to the World Health Organization's latest figures.
	Opportunities to reduce patient burden associated with breast cancer screening New technology and better screening strategies can lower the rate of false-positive results, which impose a substantial financial and psychological burden on women. The many misperceptions about breast cancer screening options and risks, the benefits and costs of screening, and the need for new approaches and better education are discussed in a series of articles in a supplement to Journal of Women's Health.
Researchers find foot drop stimulator beneficial in stroke rehab Kessler Foundation scientists have published a study showing that use of a foot drop stimulator during a task-specific movement for 4 weeks can retrain the neuromuscular system. This finding indicates that applying the foot drop stimulator as rehabilitation intervention may facilitate recovery from this common complication of stroke. "EMG of the tibialis anterior demonstrates a training effect after utilization of a foot drop stimulator," was published online ahead of print on July 2 by NeuroRehabilitation. The authors are Rakesh Pilkar, PhD, Mathew Yarossi, MS, and Karen J. Nolan, PhD, of Human Performance & Engineering Research at Kessler Foundation.
Mefloquine fails to replace SP for malaria prevention during pregnancy In today's issue of PLOS Medicine, Clara Menendez from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Spain, and colleagues report results from two large randomized controlled trials conducted in Africa to test an alternative drug for malaria prevention in HIV-negative and HIV-positive pregnant women.
Patients accept false-positives to achieve diagnostic sensitivity Both patients and healthcare professionals believe diagnosis of extracolonic malignancy with screening computed tomography (CT) colonography greatly outweighs the potential disadvantages of subsequent radiologic or invasive follow-up tests precipitated by false-positive diagnoses, according to a new study published in the October issue of the journal Radiology.
Unless Congress acts, patients may soon lose access to primary care A national report showing the benefits of preventing a reduction in the rates physicians receive for providing Medicaid services was released today by the American College of Physicians (ACP). The report, "Why Congress Must Save the Medicaid Primary Care Pay Parity Program: Unless Congress Acts, Program to Ensure Access to Life-Saving Primary Care Will Expire," explains why it is critical to ensure Medicaid patients' access to internists and pediatricians (and their related subspecialists), family physicians, and obstetricians/gynecologists who provide mostly primary care.
	Coke, Pepsi pledge to reduce calorie consumption Coke, Pepsi and Dr Pepper said Tuesday that they'll work to reduce the calories Americans get from beverages by 20 percent over the next decade by more aggressively marketing smaller sizes, bottled water and diet drinks.
More insurers to offer health law plans next year The Obama administration says consumers in most states will have more insurance options next year under the president's health care law.
Guinean suspected Ebola case admitted to Swiss hospital A Guinean asylum seeker has been hospitalised in Switzerland with suspected Ebola, health authorities announced Tuesday.
Three more dead from Legionnaire's disease in Spain Three more people have died from Legionnaire's disease in Catalonia in northeastern Spain, officials said Tuesday, bringing to seven the death toll from the lung infection in the region in just over a week.
	Ebola threat to EU is 'low' but readiness needed EU health ministers say the chance that the deadly Ebola virus might spread to Europe is "low" but that they must improve coordination and prevention measures just in case.
Ebola's murderous path from a toddler to global mayhem When a toddler in a remote Guinean village suddenly died from a mysterious fever last December, no one could have imagined it signalled the start of the worst-ever Ebola epidemic.
Best friends' drinking can negate the protective effects of an alcohol dehydrogenase 1B gene variant Patterns of alcohol use that begin during adolescence are important factors in the development of alcohol use disorders (AUDs) during adulthood. While researchers know that adolescent drinking is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, much less is known about interactions between the two. A study of the interplay between peer drinking and the functional polymorphism rs1229984 in the alcohol dehydrogenase 1B gene (ADH1B) in the development of adolescent drinking milestones has found that peer drinking reduces the protective effects of an ADH1B variant.
Lung cancer test less effective in areas where infectious lung disease is more common A new analysis of published studies found that FDG-PET technology is less accurate in diagnosing lung cancer versus benign disease in regions where infections like histoplasmosis or tuberculosis are common. Misdiagnosis of lung lesions suspicious for cancer could lead to unnecessary tests and surgeries for patients, with additional potential complications and mortality.

---

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