Fwd: Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Mar 3

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Climate change affects human health, ATS membership survey shows

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From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Wed, Mar 4, 2015 at 2:46 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Mar 3
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for March 3, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Na-ion batteries get closer to replacing Li-ion batteries
- Why seashells' mineral forms differently in seawater
- New technique allows analysis of clouds around exoplanets
- Research challenges popular theory on origin of languages
- Giant virus revealed in 3-D using X-ray laser
- Study shows one reason why pigeons so rarely crash
- Simulations suggests cutting rainforests in mid and high latitudes can impact rainfall in northern hemisphere
- The origins of polarized nervous systems
- Plants detect bacterial endotoxin in similar process to mammals
- Researchers evaluate mosquitoes' ability to float on water in order to potentially design aquatic robots
- BlackBerry offers new phones but turns focus to software
- Flower-like magnetic nanoparticles target difficult tumors
- A new level of earthquake understanding
- Researchers discover new material to produce clean energy
- Far from home: Wayward cluster is both tiny and distant

Astronomy & Space news

	New technique allows analysis of clouds around exoplanets Meteorologists sometimes struggle to accurately predict the weather here on Earth, but now we can find out how cloudy it is on planets outside our solar system, thanks to researchers at MIT.
	Fierce 'superflares' from the sun zapped an infant Earth Our young sun may have routinely blasted Earth with gobs of energy more powerful than any similar bombardments recorded in human history.
	OSIRIS catches glimpse of Rosetta's shadow Several days after Rosetta's close flyby of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko on 14 February 2015, images taken on this day by OSIRIS, the scientific imaging system on board, have now been downlinked to Earth. With a resolution of 11 centimeters per pixel, these data from OSIRIS' Narrow Angle Camera reveal highly detailed structures on the comet's surface. Since at closest approach Sun, spacecraft and comet were almost perfectly aligned, few shadows are visible in the images. With one exception: as a side-effect of this exceptional observational geometry Rosetta's shadow on the surface can be seen surrounded by a bright halo-like region.
	Far from home: Wayward cluster is both tiny and distant Like the lost little puppy that wanders too far from home, astronomers have found an unusually small and distant group of stars that seems oddly out of place. The cluster, made of only a handful of stars, is located far away, in the Milky Way's "suburbs." It is located where astronomers have never spotted such a small cluster of stars before.
	OSIRIS-REx mission successfully completes system integration review This week marked the completion of an important step on the path to spacecraft assembly, test, and launch operations for the Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Security Regolith Explorer or OSIRIS-REx mission.
	Aboriginal legends an untapped record of natural history written in the stars Aboriginal legends could offer a vast untapped record of natural history, including meteorite strikes, stretching back thousands of years, according to new UNSW research.
	Kamikaze comet loses its head Like coins, most comet have both heads and tails. Occasionally, during a close passage of the Sun, a comet's head will be greatly diminished yet still retain a classic cometary outline. Rarely are we left with nothing but a tail. How eerie it looks. Like a feather plucked from some cosmic deity floating down from the sky. Welcome to C/2015 D1 SOHO, the comet that almost didn't make it.
	Why don't we search for different life? If we really want to find life on other worlds, why do we keep looking for life based on carbon and water? Why don't we look for the stuff that's really different?

Medicine & Health news

	People use handshakes to sniff each other out Limp or firm, your handshake conveys subliminal social cues. Now, research reveals it also transmits chemical signals that could explain why the greeting evolved in the first place.
	Scientists produce hypothalamic neurons, which can help target a range of conditions Collaborating with scientists from New York, Toronto, and Tokyo, Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) researchers have devised two methods for using stem cells to generate the type of neurons that help regulate behavioral and basic physiological functions in the human body, such as obesity and hypertension, as well as sleep, mood, and some social disorders.
	Protein may be key to cancer's deadly resurgences Tumor recurrence following a period of remission is the main cause of death in cancer. The ability of cancer cells to remain dormant during and following therapy, only to be reactivated at a later time, frequently with greater aggressiveness, is one of the least-understood aspects of the disease.
	Adults only really catch flu about twice a decade, suggests study Adults over the age of 30 only catch flu about twice a decade, a new study publishing March 3rd in PLOS Biology suggests.
	Neuroscientists identify new way several brain areas communicate Carnegie Mellon University neuroscientists have identified a new pathway by which several brain areas communicate within the brain's striatum.
	Research links creativity with inability to filter irrelevant sensory information The literary great Marcel Proust wore ear-stoppers because he was unable to filter out irrelevant noise—and lined his bedroom with cork to attenuate sound.
	Newly discovered hormone mimics the effects of exercise Scientists at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology have discovered a new hormone that fights the weight gain caused by a high-fat Western diet and normalizes the metabolism - effects commonly associated with exercising.
	Moderate coffee consumption lessens risk of clogged arteries and heart attacks People who drink a moderate amount of coffee daily are less likely to develop clogged arteries that could lead to heart attacks, reveals research published online in Heart. Researchers from South Korea found that people consuming three to five cups a day had the least risk of coronary calcium in their arteries.
Kids who lack sympathy more likely to share with virtuous friends Children who sometimes lack sympathy for others are more likely to share resources with those friends if they respect their morals suggests a paper published today (March 2, 2015) in the British Journal of Developmental Psychology.
	Penis size: Researchers provide the long and short of it What is an "average" size for a penis? The enduring question now has a scientific answer: 13.12 centimetres (5.16 inches) in length when erect, and 11.66 cm around, according to an analysis of more than 15,000 appendages around the world.
	Study offers clues to early detection of bipolar disorders in high-risk children New research published today in the American Journal of Psychiatry indicates a strong link between subthreshold manic episodes and likelihood of developing bipolar disorder in children of parents with bipolar disorder. The study's findings could improve clinical assessment and care for these high-risk children by potentially enabling earlier identification, treatment or possible preventive measures.
The more friends you drink with... the more you drink Sometimes it is useful to show in a well conducted study something which one suspects could well be true. A new study published today by the scientific journal Addiction shows that alcohol consumption of individuals appears to increase with the number of friends in their drinking group. The impact of drinking group size on alcohol use is stronger for men than women.
	MR spectroscopy shows precancerous breast changes in women with BRCA gene A magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) technique that monitors biochemical changes in tissue could improve the management of women at risk of breast cancer, according to a new study published online in the journal Radiology.
Study shows strong link between adolescent obesity and high blood pressure A recent study published in the American Journal of Hypertension has found that body mass index (BMI) in healthy adolescents has a statistically significant association with both systolic blood pressures (SBP) and diastolic blood pressures (DBP), and highlights the significance of the global trend of rapidly increasing adolescent obesity.
'Now or never': making a killing from budding US pot market From aspiring "bud tenders" to research scientists and Wall Street analysts, marijuana enthusiasts of every stripe gathered in Washington looking for ways to capitalize on America's evolving pot laws.
Losing a spouse often too hastily linked to depression A new study by researchers at KU Leuven, in Belgium, has found that loneliness brought about by the death of a spouse can trigger a wider network of depression-like symptoms - but that doctors are often too quick to attribute these symptoms to depression.
Researchers find the pathway responsible for taste changes among chemotherapy patients Many patients undergoing chemotherapy experience severe taste disruptions that make eating a challenge at a time when maintaining good nutrition is extremely important. Because the type of chemotherapy drugs used varies among cancer types, numerous theories exist about how and why certain medications interfere with taste perception. Now researchers at the University of Michigan have identified the pathway responsible for taste changes among users of chemotherapy drugs that treat basal cell carcinoma (BCC), a skin cancer that is among the most commonly diagnosed in the US.
	Researchers explain cancer-destroying compound in extra virgin olive oil Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), long-known for its heart health benefits, has now been identified for its rapid destruction of cancer cells. While scientists have proven that the oleocanthal compound found in EVOO causes cell death in cancer cells, they have been unable to provide an explanation for this phenomenon until now. Paul Breslin, David Foster, and Onica LeGendre offer answers in their paper "(-)-Oleocanthal Rapidly and Selectively Induces Cancer Cell Death Via Lysosomal Membrane Permeabilization (LMP)," published in Molecular & Cellular Oncology.
Scientists move closer to creating cartilage from stem cells Scientists have succeeded in producing cartilage formed from embryonic stem cells that could in future be used to treat the painful joint condition osteoarthritis.
Investigational therapy could attack cause of sickle cell crises Treatment for painful episodes of blood vessel obstruction in sickle cell anemia is currently limited to controlling pain, but an investigational therapy might be able to interfere with the underlying cause of these events, known as vaso-occlusion crises, researchers at Duke Medicine report.
	Researcher looks to eye-tracking device to better understand anxiety in children Koraly Perez-Edgar, a researcher in Penn State's Department of Psychology, takes a remote-operated toy spider from a tall bookcase in her office, turns it on and places it on the linoleum floor. It's gangly, about the size of a shoebox, with eight fuzzy black legs, beady eyes and plastic fangs. With the switch of a button, the arachnid on wheels zooms forward and out of the room.
	US dietary guidelines focus on curtailing sugar The latest word from an advisory panel that helps form U.S. dietary guidelines confirms what nutritionists have been saying in recent years: Cholesterol-rich foods like eggs and shrimp aren't as bad for us as previously believed, but sugars definitely should be curtailed.
	Diet key to lifespan and fertility It may be possible to live longer and increase fertility by manipulating diet, according to world-first research in mice from the University of Sydney's Charles Perkins Centre.
Despite federal law, some insurance exchange plans offer unequal coverage for mental health One-quarter of the health plans being sold on health insurance exchanges set up through the Affordable Care Act offer benefits that appear to violate a federal law requiring equal benefits for general medical and mental health care, according to new research led by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
	The match between early family experiences and self-esteem contributes to how people view themselves Although some children emerge from cold and neglectful family environments as adults with high self-esteem, a new study by a University at Buffalo research team suggests those people may still be at a relative disadvantage, with a foggier sense of who they are.
	Australian virus might be answer to effective Ebola vaccine An experimental Ebola vaccine made using an Australian virus called Kunjin might help in the fight against the deadly Ebola virus, an international study led by The University of Queensland has found.
Scientists find a defect responsible for memory impairment in aging Scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute have discovered a mechanism that causes long-term memory loss due to age in Drosophila, the common fruit fly, a widely recognized substitute for human memory studies.
How fat breakdown contributes to insulin resistance New research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine has shed light on how chronic stress and obesity may contribute to type 2 diabetes. The findings point the finger at an unexpected biological perpetrator – the breakdown of fat.
	Women with endometriosis need support, not judgement Known for years as the "career woman's disease" based on the idea that women without children develop disease in their reproductive organs, endometriosis is a painful condition thought to affect one in ten women worldwide.
	Meal deliveries benefit seniors, report says Kali Thomas, assistant professor (research) of health services, policy, and practice, has shown that meal deliveries can help seniors stay in their homes and save some states money, but in a new report she documents that the service also provides psychological and health benefits, particularly for seniors who live alone.
	Researchers devise a faster, less expensive way to analyze gene activity A team of Yale researchers has developed a simple method that could significantly reduce the time and cost of probing gene expression on a large scale. The findings were published March 2 in the journal Nature Methods.
Vaccine skeptics aren't swayed by emotional scare tactics On the heels of a nationwide measles outbreak comes a report that campaigns aimed at scaring people about the consequences of non-vaccination might not be as effective as many think. An upcoming article in the journal Communication Research challenges the popular assumption that emotional appeals have a wide, sweeping effect on people's health beliefs.
Educating college students on drinking risks can temporarily help lessen drinking behaviors Briefly counseling college students on the dangers of binge drinking is effective in lowering heavy drinking levels among many students, but only temporarily. Three out of four will be right back where they started a year later, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association.
	New model shows that filaments in heart muscle cells don't automatically keep the beat Two hearts, said Keats, can beat as one; but a study led by Weizmann Institute scientists in collaboration with researchers from the University of Pennsylvania shows that sometimes a single heart muscle cell can beat as more than two dozen. The findings, reported recently in Nature Communications, provide an extremely detailed glimpse into the mechanisms behind normal and irregular heart muscle cell contractions. The study may help define the limitations of existing therapies for abnormal heartbeat and, in the future, suggest ways of designing new ones.
Family based interpersonal psychotherapy for depressed preadolescents A recent study published in the March 2015 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry finds that Family Based Interpersonal Psychotherapy (FB-IPT) is more effective in treating preadolescent children with depression compared to child-centered therapy (CCT).
	Time to 'just say no' to behavior-calming drugs for Alzheimer patients? Experts say yes Doctors write millions of prescriptions a year for drugs to calm the behavior of people with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia. But non-drug approaches actually work better, and carry far fewer risks, experts conclude in a new report.
	Listeria screening in public lavatories in Vienna Vienna's public lavatories were at the focus of a study by the Global Food Safety research group at the Vetmeduni Vienna. The researchers studied 224 public restrooms in Vienna, which are about 91 percent of all municipal public lavatories in the capital city, for the presence of the foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes. The result: the bacteria were prevalent in two percent of all lavatories. Facilities in parks and near markets had a higher prevalence of L. monocytogenes than lavatories in shopping centres or at public transport locations. The study was published in the journal Zoonoses and Public Health.
	Helping student-athletes with mental health issues (HealthDay)—Guidelines for helping U.S. high school athletes with mental health problems are outlined in a new policy statement from the National Athletic Trainers' Association.
	Does long-term acetaminophen use raise health risks? (HealthDay)—Acetaminophen may not be as safe as previously thought, with larger doses and long-term use linked to increased risk of health problems, a new report contends.
	In vitro births continue to rise in US (HealthDay)—More babies in the United States are being conceived by in vitro fertilization, a new report shows.
Stress markers in the unemployed linked to poor health Research from the ESRC International Centre for Lifecourse Studies at UCL suggests direct biological effects of stress during unemployment may help explain the increased mortality and morbidity among jobseekers. The study used biological signatures in blood samples called inflammatory markers, which are influenced by stress and are clinically important because mildly raised levels predict atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries due to fatty deposits) and heart disease.
Long-term follow-up of benign thyroid nodules shows favorable prognosis After five years of follow-up, a majority of asymptomatic, benign thyroid nodules exhibited no significant change in size, or actually decreased in size, and diagnoses of thyroid cancer were rare, according to a study in the March 3 issue of JAMA.
Examination of prior authorization policies for antipsychotic prescribing to children With a concern about inappropriate prescribing of antipsychotic medications to children, 31 states have implemented prior authorization policies for atypical antipsychotic prescribing, mostly within the past 5 years, and with most states applying their policies to children younger than 7 years of age, according to a study in the March 3 issue of JAMA.
Administering sedatives for patients receiving general anesthesia questioned Although sedatives are often administered before surgery, a randomized trial finds that among patients undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia, receiving the sedative lorazepam before surgery, compared with placebo or no premedication, did not improve the self-reported patient experience the day after surgery, but was associated with longer time till removal off a breathing tube (extubation) and a lower rate of early cognitive recovery, according to a study in the March 3 issue of JAMA.
	Study shows poor heart function could be major risk for Alzheimer's disease A healthier heart could prevent Alzheimer's disease, according to new research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Divorce fuels sugary beverage consumption, study finds Children of recently separated or divorced families are likelier to drink sugar-sweetened beverages than children in families where the parents are married, putting them at higher risk for obesity later in life, according to a new study from San Francisco State University.
Prevnar, Pfizer's pneumonia vaccine, okayed for adults in EU Pfizer's blockbuster vaccine against pneumonia and other bacterial infections has won another approval, for use in European Union residents aged 18 and older.
Researchers investigate possible colon cancer risk for new generation of weight-loss drugs Gastric bypass and similar stomach-shrinking surgeries are a popular option for obese patients looking to lose weight or treat type 2 diabetes. While the surgeries have been linked to a decreased risk in many types of cancers, the single outlier in a 2013 long-term study of 77,000 obese patients was colon cancer. In the March 3 issue of the journal Cell Metabolism, scientists at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto present work in mice that could explain this association and raise safety concerns for a new generation of weight-loss drugs that mimic the biological after effects of these procedures.
	A high-salt diet could protect against invading microbes Most people consume more salt than they need and therefore have a higher risk of heart disease and stroke, which are the two leading causes of death worldwide. But a study published by Cell Press March 3rd in Cell Metabolism reveals that dietary salt could have a biological advantage: defending the body against invading microbes. A high-salt diet increased sodium accumulation in the skin of mice, thereby boosting their immune response to a skin-infecting parasite. The findings suggest that dietary salt could have therapeutic potential to promote host defense against microbial infections.
	Air pollution linked to slower cognitive development in children Attendance at schools exposed to high levels of traffic-related air pollution is linked to slower cognitive development among 7-10-year-old children in Barcelona, according to a study published by Jordi Sunyer and colleagues from the Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Spain, published in this week's PLOS Medicine.
	Highly sensitive detection of malaria parasites New assays can detect malaria parasites in human blood at very low levels and might be helpful in the campaign to eradicate malaria, reports a study published this week in PLOS Medicine. An international team led by Ingrid Felger, from the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute in Basel, Switzerland, took advantage of genes that have multiple copies in the parasite genome to reveal parasites present at concentrations that are 10 times lower than the detection limit of current standard assays.
Friends may make the difference in keeping children active Children being physically active with a friend may accomplish more than hearing encouragement or being active with a parent, according to a new study presented at the American Heart Association's Epidemiology/Lifestyle Scientific Sessions 2015.
	Identifying the war-afflicted teenagers most in need of mental health care A new study finds widespread post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and suicidal ideation among teenagers in warn-torn Northern Uganda, not only among former child soldiers. Psychological support should be offered to all young people in the region through the education system.
	Bans don't help smokers quit: The law only does so much, study shows Smokers have become accustomed to stepping outside at bars and restaurants. But has the change in rules governing enclosed public places inspired enough of them to smoke less behind their own closed doors or maybe even quit altogether?
Pregnant women with asthma need to curb urge to ask for antibiotics Getting sick when you're pregnant is especially difficult, but women whose children are at risk for developing asthma should avoid antibiotics, according to a new study.
	FDA warning: men's testosterone drugs overused (Update) The Food and Drug Administration is warning doctors against over-prescribing testosterone-boosting drugs for men, saying the popular treatments have not been established as safe or effective for common age-related issues like low libido and fatigue.
	Age-specific causal link for adiposity, CV risk factors (HealthDay)—Adiposity has an age-specific causal effect on cardiovascular risk factors, according to research published online Feb. 23 in Diabetes.
	Severe obesity in youth even riskier than thought (HealthDay)—Extremely obese children—such as those at least 100 pounds overweight—are in deeper trouble in terms of cardiovascular disease risks than doctors have thought, new research suggests. The study appears online March 2 in JAMA Pediatrics.
	Both high and low intensity exercise benefit weight, waist (HealthDay)—For people who are obese and sedentary, any exercise can help trim abdominal fat, but it may take a bit more effort to get other health benefits, a new study suggests. The findings were published in the March 3 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Losing weight before pregnancy is healthier for mom, baby Before she got pregnant in 2014, Lizzy King, 28, of East Lansing, Mich., gave herself a "lifestyle overhaul." She started running and lost 50 pounds. She eschewed processed food and ate her first banana.
Amgen says a study found its cancer drug more effective than rival drug Amgen Inc., the Thousand Oaks, Calif., biotech giant, said Sunday a new study has found its cancer drug Kyprolis is far more effective in treatment of relapsed multiple myeloma than its chief rival.
Experimental Ebola drug ZMapp begins clinical trials in Liberia ZMapp, the experimental Ebola drug that won notoriety when it was given to a handful of infected aid workers at the height of the epidemic, will now begin clinical testing in Liberian treatment centers, U.S. health authorities said.
California scientists link tiny particles in car exhaust to heart disease A new study by California scientists has linked chronic exposure to microscopic air pollutants in vehicle exhaust to deaths from heart disease. The finding bolsters evidence that ultrafine particles, which are not regulated by state or federal environmental agencies, are a key contributor to health problems among people living near traffic.
Device gives early warning on heart failure Joe Jones has been hospitalized half a dozen times for heart failure.
Early life stress may cause excess serotonin release resulting in a serotonin deficit Studies indicate that the majority of people with mood and anxiety disorders who receive the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressant medications, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors or SSRI's, are not helped by these medications. SSRIs are designed to increase serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain that is key to maintenance of mood.
	ADHD plus childhood trauma heightens risk for self-harm, suicide Young women with ADHD who have been exposed to abuse, neglect or other traumas in childhood and adolescence are at greater risk for self-injury, eating disorders and suicide than those with ADHD who were not mistreated in early youth, according to new research from UC Berkeley.
Spouses of alcoholics can benefit from online help, study finds Women married to men with alcohol abuse problems can face a slew of problems themselves, with finding support for their situation near the top of the list.
Expanding sports concussion laws may help ensure safety of all teenage athletes Recent concussion laws that set out to prevent head injuries in American teenage athletes should be extended to include the activities of summer camps, travel teams and all-star teams. This will ensure that all children and youths who suffer head injuries receive appropriate care and education. So says Thomas Trojian of Drexel University College of Medicine, lead author of a study that showed a marked increase in the number of teenagers receiving medical treatment for sports-related concussions after laws pertaining to these injuries were passed in Connecticut in 2010. The findings are published in Springer's journal Injury Epidemiology.
	Study shows testosterone being prescribed when not medically needed A new study by the University of Texas Medical Branch found that 20 percent of men were prescribed testosterone despite having normal testosterone levels based on the Endocrine Society's guidelines. The study also found that 39 percent of new testosterone users did not have a prostate cancer screening during the year before treatment and 56 percent were not screened during the year after starting treatment.
OTC medications and supplements are most common causes of drug-induced liver failure Drug-induced acute liver failure is uncommon, and over-the-counter medications and dietary and herbal supplements—not prescription drugs—are its most common causes, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The findings are published in the current issue of Gastroenterology.
	New compound protects 100 percent of ferrets, mice, from H5N1 Since 2003, the H5N1 influenza virus, more commonly known as the bird flu, has been responsible for the deaths of millions of chickens and ducks and has infected more than 650 people, leading to a 60 percent mortality rate for the latter. Luckily, this virus has yet to achieve human-to-human transmission, but a small number of mutations could change that, resulting in a pandemic. Now a team of investigators from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Stanford University Medical Center, and MacroGenics have developed an antibody which has proven 100 percent protective against the virus in two species of animal models. The research is published ahead of print February 11, in the Journal of Virology.
New drugs pose serious health risks says UN body The proliferation of new narcotics developed to circumvent existing drug laws poses a serious health problem, the United Nations drugs control body said on Tuesday.
	US health officials perplexed by vaccination skeptics Public health officials in the U.S. are exasperated by their inability to persuade more parents to vaccinate their children, saying they're dealing with a small minority who are misinformed—or merely obstinate—about the risks of inoculations.
New pot users in Spain outnumber new tobacco users: study The number of Spaniards who said they started using cannabis in 2013 outnumbered those who said they took up smoking cigarettes, according to a government study released Tuesday.
Aneurysm screening should be revisited, say experts Aneurysm screening for men over 65 should be revisited as it is unknown whether the benefits outweigh the harms, argue researchers in The BMJ this week.
Obamacare future hangs in balance at US Supreme Court The US Supreme Court faces a momentous case Wednesday on the sweeping health insurance reform law that President Barack Obama wants to leave as part of his legacy.
One million patients could lose primary care if residency training in underserved regions is eliminated The shortage of primary care doctors could worsen if funding for the Teaching Health Centers (THC), a program to train medical residents in underserved areas, is eliminated. Loss of funding - which has already been drastically reduced - could disrupt the training of 550 current medical residents and cut off the pipeline of future primary care residents, says a new report conducted by the Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative at Milken Institute School of Public Health (Milken Institute SPH) at the George Washington University (GW).
	Mobile phone app to identify premature babies in the developing world A mobile phone app that will identify babies born prematurely in the developing world is being developed by researchers at The University of Nottingham.
Global Ebola conference seeks end to W.Africa outbreak Leaders of Ebola-hit countries in west Africa will attend an international conference in Brussels Tuesday to mobilise a final push to end the outbreak and ensure the delivery of nearly $5 billion in aid pledges.
	Load-bearing capacity of the cruciate ligament replacement precisely evaluated A footballer is able to play football again or to recommence training six months after an operation on a cruciate ligament rupture in case of a normal healing process. This interruption is common in professional football, but it is merely an empirical value, as Siegfried Trattnig from the University Clinic for Radiology and Nuclear Medicine at the MedUni Wien (Medical University of Vienna) has emphasised. In future, however, it will be possible to evaluate precisely both the load-bearing capacity of the "new" cruciate ligament and the risk of a renewed rupture using a new imaging process methodologically developed for clinical use at the MedUni Wien, with which the biomechanical properties of the knee and the cruciate ligament can be measured.
	The 'cardiovascular revolution' has increased life expectancy in Spain Over the last century, life expectancy for Spaniards has increased by 40 years. A study by the International University of La Rioja determines that the main cause, since 1980, is the reduced incidence of cardiovascular diseases. Other pathologies, such as mental illnesses and certain types of cancer, have been seen to rise. The authors predict that the effects of the economic recession on mortality will show up in the long-term.
Neuropsychological, neuropsychiatric and functional assessments help follow the course of Alzheimer's disease The cognitive performance of persons with Alzheimer's disease and behavioural and psychological problems are linked to their performance of activities of daily living, according to a recent study completed at the University of Eastern Finland. However, difficulties in cognitive performance were not linked to behavioural and psychological problems, although both deteriorated as the disease progressed. Some persons may have significant problems in memory and other cognitive performance without the presence of behavioural and psychological problems, while others experience behavioural and psychological problems already at the early phase of the disease.
Early benefit assessment increases transparency for study data Four years have passed since the introduction of the German Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products (AMNOG). AMNOG was primarily aimed at containing the increasing drug expenditure of the statutory health insurance funds. However, the early benefit assessment of new drugs as stipulated by AMNOG also reveals so far unpublished information from clinical study reports. Researchers from the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) have further examined this issue in an article published in the British Medical Journal.
Uganda on defensive over medical 'brain drain' uproar Uganda's government on Tuesday hit back at mounting criticism of plans to 'export' over 200 health workers to the Caribbean, insisting it was only seeking to regulate an existing labour market and prevent abuses.
African leaders urge Ebola 'Marshall Plan' Leaders of the west African countries worst hit by Ebola urged the world on Tuesday to back a "Marshall Plan" to help them stamp out the disease and rebuild their shattered economies.
Brain tumor patients fare better with private insurance, new study finds Brain tumor patients who are uninsured or use Medicaid stay hospitalized longer and develop more medical complications than those with private insurance, University of Florida Health researchers have found.
Tools can identify nations vulnerable to Ebola and aid response, analysis finds Public health experts can identify nations that are vulnerable to the occurrence and impact of future outbreaks of Ebola or other emergencies by using a screening tool that evaluates a nation's strengths across a wide range of measures such as political strength and health care capabilities, according to a new analysis from the RAND Corporation.
Housing First program has success in study of homeless people with mental illness It sounds simple, but it appears to be working: Give homeless people financial help to find free-market rental accommodation in the community as well as mental health support services, and the success rate in ending their homelessness is far higher than with current approaches.
Outcomes of lung transplantations since implementation of need-based allocation system Since implementation of a medical need-based allocation system of donor lungs in 2005, double-lung transplantation has been associated with better graft survival than single-lung transplantation in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF); at 5 years, there has been no survival difference between single- and double-lung transplant recipients in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a study in the March 3 issue of JAMA.
Marijuana: The allergen you never knew existed Growing up, you may have been given reasons for not smoking marijuana. What you may not have heard is that marijuana, like other pollen-bearing plants, is an allergen which can cause allergic responses.
Climate change affects human health, ATS membership survey shows The American Thoracic Society has published the results of a survey of the ATS membership on climate change which found that the majority of ATS members believe that climate change is real and that it is having a negative impact on the health of the patients that they care for.

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