Fwd: Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Mar 11

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From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Thu, Mar 12, 2015 at 1:47 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Mar 11
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

The Phys.org team would like to share a valuable resource from this month's content sponsor, COMSOL.

Join COMSOL for this free webinar "From Model to Simulation Apps with COMSOL" and see how you can use simulation models to create custom applications. Register here: http://goo.gl/RFzYao

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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for March 11, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Researchers solve the mystery of the dancing droplets (w/ video)
- The corrugated galaxy: Milky Way may be much larger than previously estimated
- Study shows Saturn moon Enceladus' ocean may have hydrothermal activity
- 'Quantum jitters' could form basis of evolution, cancer
- Frankensquid creature roamed seas 480m years ago
- Scientists use X-ray vision to probe early stages of DNA 'photocopying'
- Iron-oxidizing bacteria found along Mid-Atlantic Ridge
- Tetanus shot improves patient survival with brain tumor immunotherapy
- Rett syndrome may result from overexpression of long genes
- Epoch-defining study pinpoints when humans came to dominate planet Earth
- Media portray unrealistic timelines for stem cell therapies
- The physics of clouds: Experimental results disprove long-held ideas about turbulence
- Silk could be new 'green' material for next-generation batteries
- Saharan 'carpet of tools' is earliest known man-made landscape
- Scientists reconstruct evolutionary history of whale hearing with rare museum collection

Astronomy & Space news

	Study shows Saturn moon Enceladus' ocean may have hydrothermal activity A new study by a team of Cassini mission scientists led by the University of Colorado Boulder have found that microscopic grains of rock detected near Saturn imply hydrothermal activity is taking place within the moon Enceladus.
	The corrugated galaxy: Milky Way may be much larger than previously estimated The Milky Way galaxy is at least 50 percent larger than is commonly estimated, according to new findings that reveal that the galactic disk is contoured into several concentric ripples. The research, conducted by an international team led by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Professor Heidi Jo Newberg, revisits astronomical data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey which, in 2002, established the presence of a bulging ring of stars beyond the known plane of the Milky Way.
	A grand extravaganza of new stars This dramatic landscape in the southern constellation of Ara (The Altar) is a treasure trove of celestial objects. Star clusters, emission nebulae and active star-forming regions are just some of the riches observed in this region lying some 4000 light-years from Earth. This beautiful new image is the most detailed view of this part of the sky so far, and was taken using the VLT Survey Telescope at ESO's Paranal Observatory in Chile.
	Electric propulsion system improves maneuverability of small satellites Small satellites are becoming increasingly popular tools for Earth-imaging, communications, and other applications. But they have major control issues: Once in space, they can't accurately point cameras or change orbit, and they usually crash and burn within a few months.
	NASA to investigate magnetic explosions Magnetic reconnection could be the Universe's favorite way to make things explode.
	Comet mission in bid to contact dormant Philae probe Ground controllers will open a communications line Thursday with a robot lab perched on a comet zipping through space, hoping for signs it is alive, the European Space Agency (ESA) said Wednesday.
	Magnetospheric multiscale spacecraft poised for launch On March 12, NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) spacecraft are scheduled to launch aboard an Atlas V rocket to begin a two-year investigation of one of the most basic and important physical processes in the universe—magnetic reconnection. The mission will fly four identical spacecraft in a pyramid formation, using the Earth's magnetosphere as a laboratory to study how the Sun's magnetic field merges with the Earth's magnetic field, explosively converting magnetic energy into heat and kinetic energy.
	UK skies set to dim in decade's deepest solar eclipse On 20 March a total eclipse of the Sun will take place, visible from the North Atlantic Ocean. Observers in the UK and Ireland will see a partial solar eclipse, with up to 97% of the Sun blocked out. This will be the deepest eclipse in the UK since 1999 and until 2026.
	Scientists will try to contact the Philae comet lander on March 12 Scientists from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) will make the first attempt to contact the stranded comet lander Philae on Thursday Mar. 12. "The first attempt will take place already this week, on March 12," Stephan Ulamec, Lander Project Manager at DLR, told astrowatch.net. If we're lucky, the first signal will be received by ESA's Rosetta spacecraft at 05:00 CET. Philae came to rest on Nov. 12 2014 in a rather shaded location on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and it needs to receive sufficient energy before it can wake up.
	Have you ever used a camera on board an interplanetary craft? In May, the 'webcam' on board Mars Express will be available for public imaging requests. We're inviting schools, science clubs and youth groups to submit proposals for one of eight opportunities to image another planet.
	First-light images from NASA's soil moisture satellite revealed As severe weather hazards continue to afflict parts of the country to historic extremes, Professor Dara Entekhabi of the MIT Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) and a team of NASA scientists provide an unprecedented resource to accurately observe moisture levels within the land for more precise prediction of weather and climate.
	NASA deploys satellite designed to re-enter atmosphere using revamped drag device NASA mission controllers confirmed that a small satellite launched from the International Space Station at 5:30 p.m. PST on Tuesday, March 3, has successfully entered its orbit, setting the stage to test technology that could enable rapid return of payloads from space. Over the next four weeks, the TechEdSat-4 satellite will deploy a second-generation exo-brake, an aerodynamic drag device, to perform a maneuver that will cause the satellite to de-orbit and re-enter Earth's atmosphere.
	In 'milestone' toward Mars, NASA test-fires rocket The most powerful solid rocket booster ever built was fired up for the first time Wednesday in a test that NASA described as a "significant milestone" toward Mars.
	Astronauts board Soyuz to return to Earth Two Russian cosmonauts and an American astronaut on Wednesday boarded a Soyuz space capsule in preparation for their return to Earth after spending six months at the International Space Station.
	Sun emits significant solar flare The sun emitted a significant solar flare, peaking at 12:22 p.m. EDT on March 11, 2015. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the sun constantly, captured an image of the event. Solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation. Harmful radiation from a flare cannot pass through Earth's atmosphere to physically affect humans on the ground, however—when intense enough—they can disturb the atmosphere in the layer where GPS and communications signals travel.

Medicine & Health news

	Voices in people's heads more complex than previously thought Voices in people's heads are far more varied and complex than previously thought, according to new research by Durham and Stanford universities, published in The Lancet Psychiatry today.
	Team develops computer model explaining how brain learns to categorize New York University researchers have devised a computer model to explain how a neural circuit learns to classify sensory stimuli into discrete categories, such as "car vs. motorcycle." Their findings, which appear in the journal Nature Communications, shed new light on the brain processes underpinning judgments we make on a daily basis.
	Research shows that salt affects more than just blood pressure Sodium is essential for fluid balance and cellular homeostasis, or maintenance of a stable internal environment in an organism. But the amount of salt needed to maintain homeostasis in adults is quite low—about 500 milligrams (mg) per day.
	New clues about the risk of cancer from low-dose radiation Scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have uncovered new clues about the risk of cancer from low-dose radiation, which in this research they define as equivalent to 100 millisieverts or roughly the dose received from ten full-body CT scans.
	Brainpower peaks in different ways as people age, study finds (HealthDay)—For everyone over 40 who fears that their mind is slowly failing them, a new study suggests that older brains are better than younger brains in some ways.
	Drug restores brain function and memory in early Alzheimer's disease A novel therapeutic approach for an existing drug reverses a condition in elderly patients who are at high risk for dementia due to Alzheimer's disease, researchers at Johns Hopkins University found.
	Harder-to-abuse OxyContin doesn't stop illicit use A reformulation of OxyContin that makes it harder to abuse has curtailed the drug's illicit use. But some 25 percent of drug abusers entering rehab said they still abused the prescription painkiller despite package labeling that emphasizes its abuse-deterrent properties, new research indicates.
	Swine flu outbreak in India raises concern Since December, an outbreak of swine flu in India has killed more than 1,200 people, and a new MIT study suggests that the strain has acquired mutations that make it more dangerous than previously circulating strains of H1N1 influenza.
	Study shows two new flu strains do not yet easily infect humans Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have analyzed a key protein from two influenza strains that recently began causing sporadic infections among people in China and Taiwan.
	Media portray unrealistic timelines for stem cell therapies A new study by University of Alberta law researchers reveals sometimes overly optimistic news coverage of clinical translation of stem cell therapies—and as spokespeople, scientists need to be mindful of harnessing public expectations.
	Tetanus shot improves patient survival with brain tumor immunotherapy An innovative approach using a tetanus booster to prime the immune system enhances the effect of a vaccine therapy for lethal brain tumors, dramatically improving patient survival, according to a study led by Duke Cancer Institute researchers.
	Rett syndrome may result from overexpression of long genes Mutations in the methyl CpG binding protein 2 gene (MECP2) are the cause of the devastating childhood neurological disorder Rett Syndrome. Despite intense efforts spanning several decades the precise function of MECP2 has been difficult to pin down. Research primarily funded by the Rett Syndrome Research Trust (RSRT) and the National Institutes of Neurological Disease and Stroke (NINDS), and published today in the journal Nature reveals important information that could lead to new treatment approaches. The study, led by Michael Greenberg, Ph.D., Chairman of the Department of Neurobiology at Harvard University, shows that MECP2 dampens the expression of long genes.
	Experts sound warning over flu dangers in China, India Scientists sounded warnings Wednesday over H7N9 bird flu in China and the H1N1 strain of swine flu in India that have jointly claimed more than 1,700 lives.
	Network theory sheds new light on origins of consciousness Where in your brain do you exist? Is your awareness of the world around you and of yourself as an individual the result of specific, focused changes in your brain, or does that awareness come from a broad network of neural activity? How does your brain produce awareness?
Alternative way to pay for expensive drugs may be needed, analysis says In an era of $1,000-a-pill medications, a new approach may be needed to finance an emerging breed of highly expensive pharmaceuticals and vaccines, according to a new RAND Corporation analysis.
Naproxen plus acid blocking drug shows promise in preventing bladder cancer The anti-inflammatory class of drugs NSAIDs have shown great promise in preventing cancers including colon, esophagus and skin. However, they can increase the risks of heart attacks, ulcers and rare but potentially life-threatening bleeds.
	Researchers identify control mechanism for glutamine uptake in breast cancer cells Researchers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (Sanford-Burnham) have discovered a mechanism that explains why some breast cancer tumors respond to specific chemotherapies and others do not. The findings highlight the level of glutamine, an essential nutrient for cancer development, as a determinant of breast cancer response to select anticancer therapies, and identify a marker associated with glutamine uptake, for potential prognosis and stratification of breast cancer therapy.
One in six college students misuse ADHD stimulant drugs Getting into trouble with drugs is one way to derail a promising future, and a lot more than traffickers in hard narcotics are engaging in risky behavior on university campuses. A recent literature review published by researchers at the University of South Carolina shows that one in six college students misuse common stimulant medications prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Given that Ritalin, Adderall and their ilk are Schedule II controlled substances—the same as cocaine and methamphetamine—a lot of young adults are flirting with potentially serious legal jeopardy.
	Brain development controlled by epigenetic factor McGill researchers have discovered, for the first time, the importance of a key epigenetic regulator in the development of the hippocampus, a part of the brain associated with learning, memory and neural stem cells. Epigenetic regulators change the way specific genes function without altering their DNA sequence. By working with mutant mice as models, the research team, led by Prof. Xiang-Jiao Yang, of McGill's Goodman Cancer Center & Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Center, was able to link the importance of a specific epigenetic regulator known as BRPF1 to the healthy development of a region in the hippocampus called the dentate gyrus.
	Researchers discover new signaling pathway in embryonic development During pregnancy, the mother supplies the fetus with nutrients and oxygen via the placenta. If placental development is impaired, this may lead to growth disorders of the embryo or to life-threatening diseases of the mother such as preeclampsia, a serious condition involving high blood pressure and increased urinary protein excretion. Now, Dr. Katharina Walentin and Professor Kai Schmidt-Ott of the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch have discovered a new molecular signaling pathway which regulates the development of the placenta. Perturbations of this pathway in mice cause developmental defects of the placenta.
	Age of death for retirees will cluster in the early 90s, study says Age at death will increasingly cluster in the 90s and the life expectancy of men and women will converge, according to a study by academics from Cass Business School in partnership with the International Longevity Centre UK (ILC UK). Over the coming decades, men in particular will live longer, increasing the need for the country to face the challenges of an ageing society.
	Strengthening Native American families to improve children's health Strengthening Native American families will help improve their children's health—that's the premise behind a research study targeting 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds and their caregivers on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
Unituxin approved for deadly pediatric cancer (HealthDay)—Unituxin (dinutuximab) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat children with high-risk neuroblastoma, a rare cancer that most often affects children aged five and under.
	Outcomes vary with transcatheter valve surgery (HealthDay)—Of more than 12,000 patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement, nearly one-quarter died within a year, while roughly 4 percent had a stroke, new research reveals. However, almost half who survived past one year weren't re-hospitalized in that time, while less than one-quarter were readmitted once. The research findings were reported in the March 10 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
	Dark neural patches in the neostriatum Researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University's Brain Mechanisms for Behaviour Unit have found a surprise upon mapping the precise connectivity inside a brain structure called the neostriatum. The cell groups here do not seem to be talking to each other, and are less interdependent in their functioning than previously suspected. Their findings were published in Brain Structure and Function.
	Researchers tap stem cells to heal rotator cuff injuries He's shirtless when he steps into the camera frame, late 30s, brown hair with a mustache. He swings his arms out to the side and back down, then straight up and down.
	Scientists sequence genome of classical Hodgkin lymphoma A team of researchers has sequenced the genome of classical Hodgkin lymphoma, illuminating exactly which proteins are altered in individual patients. The findings could pave the way to delivering personalized treatments and more effective options, since current treatments can be toxic and don't work for nearly 20 percent of patients diagnosed with the disease.
	Considerable potential savings with generic medicines Substituting branded medications with drugs containing the same active ingredients (generics) can save considerable amounts of money. A study at the Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics and Intelligent Systems (CeMSIIS) at the MedUni Vienna in cooperation with the Main Association of Austrian Social Security Institutions, has calculated the potential savings from generic medications used in the treatment of common conditions such as hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and diabetes mellitus. The potential annual financial savings for health insurance companies stand at around 18 per cent, equating to tens of millions of Euros.
	Limited self-renewal of stem cells in the brain Stem cells in the brain can produce neurons and are consequently seen as a hope for treatment. A team of researchers from the Helmholtz Zentrum München and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) has now discovered that the self-renewal rate of the stem cells is however limited, explaining why their number drops over the course of a lifetime. This work now sets the basis for further investigation of the signalling pathways that maintain the stem cells. The results have been published in the journal Nature Neuroscience.
	Environmental factors that modulate childhood allergy risk A number of factors that have a decisive impact on the likelihood that young children will develop asthmatic conditions or allergies have been identified in recent years. However, the mechanisms that account for their effects remain largely obscure. A new article written by LMU pediatricians and immunologists from Dr. von Hauner's Children's Hospital, in collaboration with colleagues from Finland and China, now presents an up-to-date review of the issue. In the paper, the authors subject eight previously published studies, based on work done in various countries on several continents, to critical reappraisal. The data reported in these studies provide a comprehensive picture of the living conditions of tens of thousands of children in both rural and urban settings, and enables a comparative analysis of the environmental factors that determine allergy risk. The article has just appeared in the journal Pediatric Allergy Immunology.
	Health experts find no evidence homeopathy works, again There's no reliable evidence that health conditions can be effectively treated with homeopathic medicine, according to a statement by the National Health and Medicine Research Council (NHMRC) released today.
	Vagus nerve stimulation shows promise for stroke rehabilitation An experimental technique to help stroke patients regain the use of their arms has shown promising results in a small-scale trial.
Effectiveness of point of care diagnostics for schistosomiasis Researchers from the Cochrane Infectious Disease Group, hosted at LSTM, have conducted an independent review to assess how well point of care tests detect Schistosoma infections in people living in endemic regions.
	Could flexible working hours be the answer to the sleep loss epidemic? It is estimated that around 30% of adults do not get enough sleep on a regular basis. To put it another way, their sleep need – the actual amount of sleep an individual needs to feel rested and function at their best – is not being met.
Researchers identify gene linked with early epilepsy Certain types of early-onset epilepsy are caused by previously unknown mutations of a potassium channel gene, KCNA2. The mutations disrupt the electrical balance in the brain in two ways. In some patients, the flow of potassium is greatly reduced; while in others, it is raised enormously. Both states can lead to hard-to-treat epileptic seizures. Mental and motor development can come to a stop, or even to regress. These findings were made by a group of European scientists led by researchers at the Universities of Leipzig and Tübingen. Their results are published in the latest Nature Genetics.
Physicians and patients overestimate risk of death from acute coronary syndrome Both physicians and patients overestimate the risk of heart attack or death for possible acute coronary syndrome (ACS) as well as the potential benefit of hospital admission for possible ACS.
	Religion and support for birth control health coverage can mix New research debunks the assumption that a woman's religion predicts her views on policies affecting reproductive health care such as insurance coverage for birth control.
	Study reveals sexual appeal of war heroes Women are more attracted to war heroes than regular soldiers or men who display heroic traits in other fields, such as in sports or natural disaster work, according to new research from the University of Southampton and partners in Europe. The findings also suggest that men did not find heroism to be a sexually attractive trait in women.
	Brain processes ongoing pain more emotionally A momentary lapse of concentration is all it takes for a finger to become trapped or sprain an ankle - and it hurts. Pain is the body's protective mechanism and a complex neurological phenomenon. Moreover, ongoing pain in the sense of chronic pain can be a disease. Scientists from Technische Universität München (TUM) have now demonstrated that already during a few minutes of ongoing pain, the underlying brain activity changes by shifting from sensory to emotional processes.
A molecular cause for selective effectiveness of parvovirus therapy discovered Parvoviruses are a class of viruses that normally infect rodents; in humans, they do not cause any disease symptoms. However, they are able to infect and kill cancer cells. The details behind this biological selectivity on the part of the viruses have not been understood until now. "Since the viruses might soon play a role in cancer medicine, it is important to know why they replicate exclusively in tumor cells in humans," says virologist Dr. Jürg Nüesch from the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ).
	Promising Alzheimer's treatment moves toward clinical trials A promising new natural treatment for Alzheimer's disease is moving toward clinical trials. This will be a major step forward as there is nothing on the market that slows the progression of Alzheimer's.
	Urging HPV vaccine for boys could protect more people at same price A Duke University study proposes a strategy to better use limited public health care dollars for protecting more people from a sexually transmitted infection called human papillomavirus (HPV) and the cancers it can cause.
	Psychosocial phone counseling aids cervical cancer survivors (HealthDay)—A psychosocial telephone counseling (PTC) intervention can be beneficial for cervical cancer survivors, according to a study published online Feb. 23 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	Study shows even injured kidneys can be used for transplants Kidneys from deceased donors that have acute injuries are frequently discarded instead of being used for transplant. However, a Yale-led study finds that such kidneys may be more viable than previously thought, and should be considered to meet the growing demand for organ transplants.
Finding strengths—and weaknesses—in hepatitis C's armor Using a specially selected library of different hepatitis C viruses, a team of researchers led by Johns Hopkins scientists has identified tiny differences in the pathogens' outer shell proteins that underpin their resistance to antibodies. The findings, reported in the January 2015 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, suggest a reason why some patients' immune systems can't fend off hepatitis C infections, and they reveal distinct challenges for those trying to craft a successful vaccine to prevent them. Due to concerns about the rising costs of newly available hepatitis C drugs, researchers are looking to a vaccine as a more viable and less costly option.
	Therapeutic exercise lessens lung injury and muscle wasting in critically ill patients Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening lung condition that affects approximately 200,000 people a year in the United States and has a higher mortality rate than breast and prostate cancer combined. The condition most often occurs in people who are critically ill or who have significant injuries; those who do survive it often experience profound skeletal muscle weakness.
Gender and race influences when teens start drinking, smoking and doing drugs Cigarette use among white teenagers is substantially higher than among black and Hispanic teenagers, especially at 18 years old, according to Penn State researchers. Alcohol and marijuana use are also higher in white teenagers, and the numbers continue to increase until age 20. Throughout their 20s, blacks and Hispanics are more likely to pick up a cigarette-smoking habit, while the numbers start to decrease for whites.
Researchers develop tool to understand how the gut microbiome works Researchers at Harvard Medical School and Columbia University in the United States have developed a way to study the functions of hard-to-grow bacteria that contribute to the composition of the gut microbiome. The new method is published in the journal Molecular Systems Biology.
Canada measles outbreak spreads A measles outbreak linked to a flareup of the virus in the United States has spiked in neighboring Canada's Quebec province to 119 cases, health officials said Wednesday.
	Brain waves predict our risk for insomnia There may not yet be a cure for insomnia, but Concordia University researchers are a step closer to predicting who is most likely to suffer from it—just in time for World Sleep Day on March 13.
	Study shows feasibility of blood-based test for diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease UCLA researchers have provided the first evidence that a simple blood test could be developed to confirm the presence of beta amyloid proteins in the brain, which is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease.
	Repairing the cerebral cortex: It can be done A team led by Afsaneh Gaillard (Inserm Unit 1084, Experimental and Clinical Neurosciences Laboratory, University of Poitiers), in collaboration with the Institute of Interdisciplinary Research in Human and Molecular Biology (IRIBHM) in Brussels, has just taken an important step in the area of cell therapy: repairing the cerebral cortex of the adult mouse using a graft of cortical neurons derived from embryonic stem cells. These results have just been published in Neuron.
Underlying subfertility may affect ART birth outcomes, study finds Birth outcomes for babies whose mothers used assisted reproductive technology (ART) are better in some cases, and worse in others, than for subfertile women who did not use ART, according to a first-of-its-kind study led by Boston University School of Public Health researchers.
	Meta-study shows that the experience of time is altered in depression Time perception is highly subjective and usually depends on the relevant situation so that, for instance, your sense of how fast or slow time is passing can be influenced by whether you are waiting for something or if a deadline is approaching. Patients suffering from depression appear to experience time differently than healthy individuals. Statements made by corresponding patients indicate that for them time seems to pass extremely slowly or even stands still.
	Meat industry fights new dietary proposal The meat industry is seeing red.
	Specialty drugs save lives, come with daunting price tags Mati Munoz lost her liver to hepatitis C, and the virus was attacking its transplanted replacement last year when her doctor prescribed a drug combination that could save the organ.
	Molecules in prostate tumors might predict whether RT can help prevent recurrence A new study has identified a group of molecules in prostate-cancer cells that doctors might one day use to distinguish which patients should be treated with radiation therapy if rising PSA levels indicate their cancer has recurred after surgical removal of the prostate.
	Exercise may help keep seniors moving longer despite old age brain decline Older people who are physically active may be protecting themselves from the effects of small areas of brain damage that can affect their movement abilities, according to a new study published in the March 11, 2015, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
	Could yoga lessen prenatal depression? In a small pilot study, researchers at Brown University, Butler Hospital, and Women & Infants' Hospital have found evidence suggesting that yoga could help pregnant women with significant depression reduce the severity of the mood disorder.
	Scientists find a new beta cell maturation step triggered by weaning from milk to chow A long-standing puzzle in the diabetes field has been the fact that only a small subset of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas of adult organisms can replicate (and hence contribute to beta cell regeneration in diabetes). Furthermore, this subset of replicating cells continues to decline with advancing age.
	Prescription for living longer: Spend less time alone Ask people what it takes to live a long life, and they'll say things like exercise, take Omega-3s, and see your doctor regularly.
Babies' body mass index may predict childhood obesity Body mass index (BMI) during infancy may help to predict if a child will be obese by age four. In a study focused on the infant BMI-childhood obesity relationship in a cohort with a majority of African-American children, researchers from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) say that a better understanding of infant growth patterns may lead to more effective early efforts at obesity prevention.
	Rat brains point to lead's role in schizophrenia A study of the brains of rats exposed to lead has uncovered striking similarities with what is known about the brains of human schizophrenia patients, adding compelling evidence that lead is a factor in the onset of schizophrenia.
	Ebola-infected sewage may require longer holding period Storing Ebola-infected sewage for a week at 86° Fahrenheit or higher should allow enough time for more than 99.99 percent of the virus to die, though lower ambient temperatures may require a longer holding period, according to a new study by researchers at Georgia State University's School of Public Health.
Britain votes for plain cigarette packaging British lawmakers on Wednesday voted in favour of forcing tobacco firms to sell cigarettes in plain packaging despite fierce opposition from the industry.
	Exercise perfusion CT imaging IDs coronary stenosis (HealthDay)—For patients suspected of having hemodynamically significant coronary stenosis, exercise computed tomography (CT) myocardial perfusion imaging is feasible and accurate, according to a study published in the March issue of Radiology.
	CVD risk up with androgen deprivation Tx in prostate cancer (HealthDay)—For men with prostate cancer (PCa), the risk for incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) is increased with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), according to a study published online March 2 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	Persistent EHR nonadoption could mean lower payment (HealthDay)—Persistent nonadopters of electronic health records (EHRs) tend to be older, and are employed in smaller practices, according to a letter published in the March 3 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	More than half of angiograms for IHD deemed appropriate (HealthDay)—More than half of coronary angiographic studies done to investigate suspected ischemic heart disease (IHD) would be classified as appropriate according to the 2012 appropriate use criteria for diagnostic catheterization (AUC). The findings were published in the March 10 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Age, race may affect Tx decision regret in prostate cancer (HealthDay)—Age, race, and other factors may influence treatment decisional regret among men with prostate cancer, according to research published online March 3 in Cancer.
	Frustrated by regulations, doctors increasingly miserable (HealthDay)—The nationwide Physician Misery Index is 3.7 out of 5, with the vast majority of physicians reporting that the business and regulation of health care has worsened the practice of medicine, according to a report published by Geneia.
	Study explores in vivo role of ubiquinone in mouse model (HealthDay)—Ubiquinone (UQ) does not act as an antioxidant in vivo, and partial restoration of UQ levels and mitochondrial function can reverse severe disease phenotypes and shortened lifespan, according to an experimental study published online March 6 in Nature Communications.
	Steroids rapidly restore blood-brain barrier function after blast Barclay Morrison III, associate professor of biomedical engineering at Columbia Engineering, has led the first study to determine underlying biological mechanisms that promote functional recovery of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) after blast injury. The research demonstrates that treatment with the glucocorticoid, dexamethasone, after primary blast injury promotes rapid recovery of an in vitro model of the BBB, a highly restrictive semi-permeable barrier whose primary function is to maintain the brain's microenvironment and protect it from potentially toxic substances. The study is published in the March 11 Advance Online Publication of the Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism.
	When should blood transfusions be given after cardiac surgery? New research has shown that patients having heart surgery do not benefit if doctors wait until a patient has become substantially anaemic before giving a transfusion.
Clinical trial sponsors fail to report results to participants, public Despite legal and ethical mandates for disclosure, results from most clinical trials of medical products are not reported promptly on a registry specifically created to make results of human studies publically available, according to Duke Medicine researchers.
New mums more satisfied after giving birth in a public hospital Women who give birth in a public hospital are more confident parents compared to women who have babies privately, a new Australian study has found.
Examining Africans' kidney disease World Kidney Day, celebrated on 12 March 2015, is commemorated to raise awareness of the importance of our kidneys to our overall health and to reduce the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide.
How changes in body weight affect the human metabolism Until now there have been few molecular epidemiological studies regarding the effects of weight changes on metabolism in the general population. In a recent study conducted and funded within the framework of the Competence Network Obesity, researchers at the Institute of Epidemiology II at Helmholtz Zentrum München (HMGU) evaluated molecular data of the KORA study.
	Telemedicine allows UTHealth to enroll patients remotely into acute stroke trial For the first time in the world, researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) were able to enroll patients at other hospitals into an acute stroke clinical trial.
	Are social networks helpful or harmful in long-distance romantic relationships? Social network sites such as Facebook play an important role in maintaining relationships, including romantic relationships, whether individuals are involved in a geographically close or long-distance romantic relationship. A new study that compares the relative importance of social networks and explores the role they play in helping to maintain a close-by versus a long-distance romantic relationship is published in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.
British Psychological Society report challenges received wisdom about mental illness 21st March 2015 will see the US launch of the British Psychological Society's Division of Clinical Psychology's ground-breaking report 'Understanding Psychosis and Schizophrenia'.
Concurrent chemoradiation treatment at high-volume facilities improves survival for NSCLC Patients treated with definitive concurrent chemotherapy and radiation therapy (CCRT) for stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have longer overall survival when treated by highly experienced facilities, whether or not they are academic or community cancer centers.
Arkansas poultry officials say avian flu found in turkeys Arkansas poultry officials say a strain of avian flu has been detected in a commercial turkey flock in the northern part of the state and that the sick birds are being destroyed.
Briton diagnosed with Ebola in Sierra Leone: London A British healthcare worker has been diagnosed with Ebola in Sierra Leone, authorities in London said Wednesday, adding that no decision had yet been taken on whether to transfer the person to Britain for care.
Treatment outlook for adults with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy move from grim to good Newly published research led by the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation (MHIF) and Tufts Medical Center in Boston shows that implantable defibrillators (ICDs), along with other modern treatments, have reduced mortality rates and are helping patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) live longer, including normal life expectancy. This research "changes our perceptions of HCM from a grim, unrelenting, and largely untreatable condition to a contemporary disease with effective treatment options and a low rate of death," states Dr. Barry Maron, lead researcher and Director of the HCM Center at MHIF. Dr. Maron will present the results of the study at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) conference in San Diego, CA on March 14.
No new Ebola cases in Liberia for more than two weeks: WHO No new case of the deadly Ebola virus has been registered in Liberia since February 19, the World Health Organization said Wednesday, also hailing positive signs in Sierra Leone and Guinea.
Endo Intl. tops Valeant's offer for fellow drugmaker Salix (Update) Specialty drugmaker Endo International PLC is trying to lure Salix Pharmaceuticals Ltd. with an offer Endo said is worth 11 percent more than the $10 billion Salix has agreed to accept from serial acquirer Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc.
Record numbers join Swiss euthanasia organisation The Swiss right-to-die organisation Exit that helps with assisted suicides on Wednesday said its membership reached a record high in 2014 with the number of applicants increasing by 20 percent.

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