Fwd: Science X Newsletter Monday, Dec 1

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Tue, Dec 2, 2014 at 2:37 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Monday, Dec 1
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for December 1, 2014:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Hackers begone: Measurement-device-independent QKD increases clock rate and transmission distance while reducing failure
- World's largest solar farm is up and running in California
- Study shows way to design 'digital' metamaterials
- American mastodons made warm Arctic, subarctic temporary home 125,000 years ago
- The human eye can see 'invisible' infrared light
- Best of Last Week – Earth's invisible shield, a sound loud enough to bend light on a chip and toxic e-cigarettes
- Engineers build time cloak that hides messages in laser light
- Rohinni's Lightpaper invites innovative lighting
- Research confirms how global warming links to carbon emissions
- Computer equal to or better than humans at indexing science
- How early trauma influences behavior
- Research finds clue to why females live longer than males
- Study points to new therapeutic strategy in chronic kidney disease
- Different species share a 'genetic toolkit' for behavioral traits, study finds
- Taking the 'mute' off silenced gene may be answer to Angelman syndrome

Astronomy & Space news

	Japan again delays launch of asteroid probe Japan on Sunday delayed the launch of a space probe designed to mine an asteroid for a second time due to bad weather.
After wrangle, Europe set to approve Ariane 6 launcher After a two-year debate sparked by the emergence of low-cost competition, European space nations on Tuesday are likely to back plans to build a new rocket, the Ariane 6, say sources.
	Observing solar system worlds as if they were distant exoplanets "It takes one to know one," as the old truism goes. When it comes to unraveling the mysteries of far-off exoplanets, the same holds true—one more reason why astronomers want to thoroughly understand the local planets right here in our Solar System.
	Ground-based detection of super-Earth transit paves way to remote sensing of exoplanets For the first time, a team of astronomers - including York University Professor Ray Jayawardhana - have measured the passing of a super-Earth in front of a bright, nearby Sun-like star using a ground-based telescope. The transit of the exoplanet 55 Cancri e is the shallowest detected from the ground yet, and the success bodes well for characterizing the many small planets that upcoming space missions are expected to discover in the next few years.
	'Smart dust' technology could reshape space telescopes Telescope lenses someday might come in aerosol cans. Scientists at Rochester Institute of Technology and the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory are exploring a new type of space telescope with an aperture made of swarms of particles released from a canister and controlled by a laser.
	NASA launching new Orion spacecraft on test flight NASA's quest to send astronauts out into the solar system begins this week with a two-laps-around-Earth test flight.
	A home-brew observatory detects exoplanet David Schneider, a senior editor at IEEE Spectrum, was interested in exoplanets, planets that orbit stars other than the sun, but figured this kind of exercise as a home-based project was going to need expensive telescopes; he stumbled across a project at Ohio State University, where resourceful astronomers had figured out a way to spot exoplanets using a device with a lens designed for high-end cameras. Schneider's wheels turned, thinking he might also be able to pull this off if he got his hands on a charge-coupled-device detector not research-grade, and maybe he could forget about an expensive telescope as well? He also discovered an online posting by an amateur astronomer saying he had detected a known exoplanet using a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera with a telephoto lens.
	Japan asteroid probe to lift off Monday after delay Japan on Monday will launch a space probe on a six-year mission to mine a distant asteroid after the event was postponed due to bad weather, officials said.
	Sail past Orion to the outer limits of the Milky Way Several nights ago the chill of interstellar space refrigerated the countryside as temperatures fell well below zero. That didn't discourage the likes of Orion and his seasonal friends Gemini, Perseus and Auriga. They only seemed to grow brighter as the air grew sharper.
	Cool NASA animation beautifully details every step of Orion's first launch It's not Science Fiction! It's Not Star Trek!
	Astronomers poised to capture image of supermassive black hole Scientists have long suspected that supermassive black holes (SMBH) reside at the center of every large galaxy in our universe. These can be billions of times more massive than our sun, and are so powerful that activity at their boundaries can ripple throughout their host galaxies.
	Herschel observes Andromeda's past and future stars Recently, the infrared Herschel Space Observatory, has taken a series of beautiful high-resolution infrared images of Andromeda. It is the first time we can see M31, at these wavelengths, at such a high resolution. The quality and sensitivity of the Herschel data is so good scientists were able to study the properties of individual regions in Andromeda as small as about 400 light years.
	ESA image: Comet ISON's swansong Some had hoped comet ISON would be the comet of the century, lighting Earth's skies during the latter months of 2013. Instead, it was barely visible for ground-based observers, but the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) had a ring-side seat to watch its disintegration.
	Astronomy in Indigenous knowledge Indigenous Australians have been developing complex knowledge systems for tens of thousands of years. These knowledge systems - which seek to understand, explain, and predict nature - are passed to successive generations through oral tradition.

Medicine & Health news

	HIV drug blocks bone metastases in prostate cancer Although prostate cancer can be successfully treated in many men, when the disease metastasizes to the bone, it is eventually lethal. In a study published online December 1st in the journal Cancer Research, researchers show that the receptor CCR5 best known for its role in HIV therapy, may also be involved in driving the spread of prostate cancer to the bone.
	Breast cancer vaccine shows promise in small clinical trial A breast cancer vaccine developed at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis is safe in patients with metastatic breast cancer, results of an early clinical trial indicate. Preliminary evidence also suggests that the vaccine primed the patients' immune systems to attack tumor cells and helped slow the cancer's progression.
	Imaging shows brain connection breakdown in early Alzheimer's disease Changes in brain connections visible on MRI could represent an imaging biomarker of Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
	A step towards solving the enduring puzzle of 'infantile amnesia' A study led by Professor James Russell shines a light on the phenomenon of 'infantile amnesia'. He argues that children's ability to recall events depends on their being able to unify the environmental elements of when, what and where. Most children develop this ability aged between two and three.
	Understanding the brain's 'suffocation alarm' Panic disorder is a severe form of anxiety in which the affected individual feels an abrupt onset of fear, often accompanied by profound physical symptoms of discomfort. Scientists have known from studying twins that genes contribute to the risk of panic disorder, but very little is known about which specific genes are involved.
	To be or not to be afraid: Neuronal encoding of the switch from specific to generalized fear Fear memories are crucial for survival. However, excessive generalization of such memories, characterized by a failure to discriminate dangerous from safe stimuli, is common in anxiety disorders. We identified distinct neuronal populations in the amygdala that signaled generalized versus cue-specific associations and determined how their distributions switched during fear generalization. These results provide a cellular basis in the amygdala for the alteration of emotional states from normal to pathological fear.
Taking the 'mute' off silenced gene may be answer to Angelman syndrome Most genes are inherited as two working copies, one from the mother and one from the father. However, in a few instances, a gene is imprinted, which means that one copy is silenced. This is called genomic imprinting. If the active copy is mutated, then disease results, even though the silenced gene copy may be normal.
	Study points to new therapeutic strategy in chronic kidney disease Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects at least one in four Americans who are older than 60 and can significantly shorten lifespan. Yet the few available drugs for CKD can only modestly delay the disease's progress towards kidney failure. Now, however, a team led by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, has found an aspect of CKD's development that points to a promising new therapeutic strategy.
	Genes and environment: Complex interactions at the heart of personalized medicine Personalized medicine uses methods of molecular analysis, especially genetic sequencing and transcription, in order to simultaneously identify genetic mutations to evaluate each individual's risk of contracting a given disease. It seems that there is more than a single mechanism at hand, as proven by the work of a team of geneticists at the University of Geneva's (UNIGE) Faculty of Medicine, and the Swiss Institute for Bioinformatics (SIB). They have sequenced the RNA of 400 pairs of twins; with this information, they can quantify the roles of both genetic and environmental context on the expression of genes. They concluded that establishing the list of mutations present in a person's genome is not sufficient to predict that person's future health. The study can be found in the latest online edition of Nature Genetics.
	Women outperform men in some financial negotiations, research finds In certain circumstances, women may be more effective than men when negotiating money matters, contrary to conventional wisdom that men drive a harder bargain in financial affairs, according to a new meta-analysis published by the American Psychological Association.
	Researchers identify chemical compound that decreases effects of multiple sclerosis Multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease of the brain and spinal cord, affects about 2.3 million people worldwide (400,000 in the United States). Affecting more women than men, it can be seen at any age, although it is most commonly diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40.
	Scientists discover why bowel cancer sometimes outsmarts treatment A new study that challenges the prevailing view of how bowel cancer develops in the large intestine is published today in Nature Medicine.
	For docs, more biology info means less empathy for mental health patients Give therapists and psychiatrists information about the biology of a mental disorder, and they have less—not more—empathy for the patient, a new Yale study shows.
	How early trauma influences behavior Traumatic and stressful events during childhood increase the risk to develop psychiatric disorders, but to a certain extent, they can also help better deal with difficult situations later in life. Researchers have studied this phenomenon in mice to learn how these effects could be transmitted to the next generation.
	Research suggests ability of HIV to cause AIDS is slowing The rapid evolution of HIV, which has allowed the virus to develop resistance to patients' natural immunity, is at the same time slowing the virus's ability to cause AIDS, according to new research funded by the Wellcome Trust.
Widely used osteoporosis drugs may prevent breast, lung and colon cancers The most commonly used medications for osteoporosis worldwide, bisphosphonates, may also prevent certain kinds of lung, breast and colon cancers, according to two studies led by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
	Researchers explore impact of traumatic brain injury on longterm memory Kessler Foundation researchers have authored a new article that provides insight into the variable impact of traumatic brain injury (TBI) on long-term memory. The article, "Working memory capacity links cognitive reserve with long-term memory in moderate to severe TBI: a translational approach," was epublished ahead of print on October 7 in the Journal of Neurology. The authors are Joshua Sandry, PhD, John DeLuca, PhD, and Nancy Chiaravalloti, PhD, of Kessler Foundation.
Ireland pushes Europe's anti-smoking drive with plain packaging Ten years since setting a trend with its workplace smoking ban, Ireland is pushing ahead to be the first EU state with plain packaging for cigarettes despite fierce opposition from tobacco companies.
New bird flu case in Netherlands Dutch authorities reported a new outbreak of bird flu Sunday at a poultry farm, but could not say if it was the worrying new strain detected elsewhere in the country.
	Stand-up advice for preventing back pain (HealthDay)—Age-related wear and tear of the spine is a common cause of back pain, but there are things you can do to reduce your risk of back injury and discomfort, an expert says.
WHO warning as China says nearly 500,000 living with HIV The World Health Organization issued a call to action to China Monday over HIV/AIDS as government figures said nearly half a million people are living with the disease or its precursor, with hundreds of thousands more thought to be undiagnosed.
	A child is treated in a US emergency department every three minutes for a toy-related injury 'Tis the season for toys. Children are writing lists full of them, and parents are standing in lines (or tapping on computers) trying to find them. Playing with toys this season or any other is an important way for children to develop, learn, and explore. But anyone planning to buy new toys, or anyone with toys already at home, should know that many toys pose an injury risk to children.
	Nearly 55 percent of US infants sleep with potentially unsafe bedding Nearly 55 percent of U.S. infants are placed to sleep with bedding that increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, despite recommendations against the practice, report researchers at the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other institutions.
	PET/CT shows pituitary abnormalities in veterans with PTSD Hybrid imaging with positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) in the pituitary region of the brain is a promising tool for differentiating military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from those with mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), according to a new study presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
	Researchers use 3-D printing to guide human face transplants Researchers are using computed tomography (CT) and 3-D printing technology to recreate life-size models of patients' heads to assist in face transplantation surgery, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
	High school football players show brain changes after one season Some high school football players exhibit measurable brain changes after a single season of play even in the absence of concussion, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
	Study confirms that sperm quality decreases with age Conflicting evidence about the extent to which men's semen quality declines with age—likely lowering their fertility—is being cleared up by new University of Otago research that has collated and reviewed data from 90 previous studies from around the world.
UK military 'early leavers' are more likely to have treatable mental health problems than others (Medical Xpress)—Each year, some 22,000 personnel leave the UK regular forces. Many leave before completing their service and are classed as 'early leavers'. New research from The University of Manchester shows that early leavers are more likely to have mental health problems than non-early leavers, and that these are likely to respond to specialist psychological treatment services.
Bilingualism delays Alzheimer manifestation by more than four years A new study at Ghent University has established that the symptoms of Alzheimer disease (AD) manifest themselves about four to five years later in bilinguals as opposed to monolinguals. In bilinguals, the disease onset was estimated at the age of 77, while in monolinguals, this was at the age of 73.
	Cancer turns blood vessels over to its cause Cancer requires a blood supply to deliver the nutrients and oxygen it needs to grow and survive. It had been thought that tumours create the blood supply they need by stimulating the formation of new blood vessels, a process called angiogenesis.
	Vagaries of memory mean eyewitness testimony isn't perfect Twenty eyewitnesses testified before the grand jury investigating the police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. None of these accounts is fully consistent with any other. Moreover, eyewitnesses even gave accounts that do not agree with their own earlier versions. To the public and the media, these discrepancies have been startling.
	2-D images as the new tool for cancer prevention Portuguese researchers have developed a new method to analyze images of a protein in a population of cells to quantify its distribution for that population. The discovery by researchers João Sanches, Raquel Seruca and colleagues has important medical implications since the cellular location of a protein is directly linked to its function.
	Leafy greens reduce aggressive behaviour in adolescents High magnesium intake has been associated with reduced aggressive behaviour in WA adolescents, highlighting the importance of a magnesium-rich diet in emotional and behavioural health.
	Rodents considered for burst ear drum treatments Scientists need a more effective animal model in which to create ear drum perforations to help find new ways to treat the condition in humans.
Placebo boosts endurance running performance Performance-enhancing drugs can improve a runner's best time – even when they haven't taken them.
	First human trials show non-invasive diagnosis of bone diseases possible New research announced today could lead to the early diagnosis and treatment of chronic, debilitating conditions such as 'brittle bone' and osteoporosis, and help improve the lives of tens of thousands of sufferers in the UK alone. It could enable doctors to identify the bone diseases without having to use invasive diagnostic methods, or exposing patients to radiation associated with the usual X-ray techniques.
	Researchers design a model to predict the effects of chemical substances on health The analysis of drugs, natural products, and chemical substances found in the environment allows the identification of the chemical fragments responsible for a therapeutic or deleterious effect on human health.
	Non-drinkers devise strategies to navigate booze-centered work events From holiday parties to happy hours, social events with co-workers and clients often revolve around alcohol, which can put non-drinkers in an awkward position: they don't want to drink, but they do want to take part in events they feel are important to networking and career advancement (without making drinkers feel bad). That perceived tension leads non-drinkers to develop techniques to fit in socially without taking a drink.
	What that 'BPA-free' label isn't telling you Purchase a plastic water bottle, and there's a good chance that it will feature a "BPA-free" label. You might be seeing it more often because the industrial chemical Bisphenol-A has now been removed from a wide array of products. But, are products that are "BPA-free" actually less risky? And do these labels actually effect consumer behavior?
	Current way of detecting gene mutations misses people at high risk of cancer (Medical Xpress)—Research led by a University of Manchester academic on the BRCA gene mutation in the Jewish population shows that the current process of identifying people which relies on assessing someone's family history, misses half the people who have the mutation and are at risk of developing cancer.
Widening wage gap linked to more deaths among black Americans Greater income inequality is linked to more deaths among African Americans, but the effect is reversed among white Americans, who experienced fewer deaths, according to a new study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley.
	Causal link between antibiotics and childhood asthma dismissed In a new register study in the scientific journal BMJ, researchers at Karolinska Institutet are able to dismiss previous claims that there is a link between the increased use of antibiotics in society and a coinciding rise in childhood asthma. The study includes half a million children and shows that exposure to antibiotics during pregnancy or early in life does not appear to increase the risk of asthma.
Mental health inequalities in detection of breast cancer Women with a mental illness (including depression, anxiety and serious mental illnesses) are less likely to be screened for breast cancer, according to new research published in the BJPsych (online first).
	New Dutch cull ordered after bird flu confirmed as H5N8 Dutch authorities on Monday ordered the cull of 50,000 poultry after a bird flu outbreak on a nearby farm was confirmed as the highly pathogenic H5N8 strain.
Jane Austen, evolutionary psychologist Last year, the Bank of England announced that a sketch of Jane Austen will replace Charles Darwin on the ten-pound note. Austen is one of the most popular authors of fiction; her works have been translated into more than 30 languages and adapted for numerous film and television productions. Darwin formulated the fundamental theoretical framework for the life sciences. Two new studies suggest that it would be more fitting if Austen and Darwin appeared together.
Researchers identify genetic mutation responsible for serious disorder common in Inuit Researchers have identified the cause for a disorder common in Inuit people that prevents the absorption of sucrose, causing gastrointestinal distress and failure to thrive in infants. The study, published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal), identified a genetic mutation responsible for the disorder, called congenital sucrose-isomaltase deficiency (CSID).
Ciliopathies lie behind many human diseases In recent years, cilia, microscopic, tentacle-like extensions from biological cells, have risen from relative obscurity and are now considered important to the understanding of many human afflictions. In a December BioScience article, George B. Witman, of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and Jason M. Brown, of Salem State University, describe recent discoveries involving cilia-related diseases (called "ciliopathies") and highlight "model" species that could be useful for systematic study of ciliopathies.
	Athletes perform better when exposed to subliminal visual cues New research has found that athletes who are exposed to subliminal visual cues during endurance exercise will perform significantly better.
	The Salk polio vaccine: A medical miracle turns 60 (Part 1/2) (HealthDay)—Most American parents today can't fathom the horror that summers brought during the first half of the 20th century.
	The man in the iron lung (HealthDay)—Paul Alexander's most impressive accomplishment is something most people never think about.
	Natural 'high' could avoid chronic marijuana use Replenishing the supply of a molecule that normally activates cannabinoid receptors in the brain could relieve mood and anxiety disorders and enable some people to quit using marijuana, a Vanderbilt University study suggests.
For cardiac arrest, epinephrine may do more harm than good For patients in cardiac arrest, administering epinephrine helps to restart the heart but may increase the overall likelihood of death or debilitating brain damage, according to a study published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
	Study demonstrates that exercise following bariatric surgery provides health benefits A new study by researchers at the Florida Hospital - Sanford-Burnham Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes (TRI-MD) shows that patients who moderately exercise after bariatric surgery (weight-loss surgery) gain additional health improvements in glucose metabolism and cardiorespiratory fitness compared to patients who lead a sedentary lifestyle after surgery. The findings confirm the physiological and potential clinical benefits of adding an exercise regime following weight-loss surgery.
	Diabetes in midlife linked to significant cognitive decline 20 years later People diagnosed with diabetes in midlife are more likely to experience significant memory and cognitive problems during the next 20 years than those with healthy blood sugar levels, new Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health research suggests.
	Study looks at falls from furniture by children in their homes Parents of children who fell at home were more likely not to use safety gates and not to have taught their children rules about climbing on things in the kitchen, according to a study published online by JAMA Pediatrics.
Anticholesterol rosuvastatin not associated with reduced risk for fractures Treatment with the anticholesterol medicine rosuvastatin calcium did not reduce the risk of fracture among men and women who had elevated levels of an inflammatory biomarker, according to a report published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.
	Study finds it's mean boys, not mean girls, who rule at school Debunking the myth of the "mean girl," new research from the University of Georgia has found that boys use relational aggression—malicious rumors, social exclusion and rejection—to harm or manipulate others more often than girls.
New substance overcomes treatment-restistance in leukemia Haematologists from Goethe University Frankfurt, working with a Russian pharmaceutical company, have developed a new active substance that effectively combats the most aggressive forms of Philadelphia chromosome-positive leukemia.
	WHACK! Study measures head blows in girls' lacrosse Lacrosse players swing hard, which is why errant stick blows are the leading cause of concussion in girls' and women's lacrosse. In a new study, researchers measured how much the worst blows accelerate the head and how much different kinds of headgear could reduce those accelerations.
	Scientists uncover gene associated with an aggressive breast cancer Scientists at A*STAR's Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), in collaboration with local clinicians and colleagues in the USA, have identified a biomarker which is strongly associated with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), a highly aggressive carcinoma that often has early relapse and metastasis following chemotherapy. The newly identified biomarker, a gene called RASAL2, provides a target for developing new therapeutics designed to treat this often deadly disease.
Warning to bariatric surgery patients: Take your supplements, for eye's sake Obese patients who have undergone bariatric surgery to shed weight should take the supplements prescribed to them to protect their eyes. Taking in too little Vitamin A, in particular, could in some cases actually cause night blindness, dry eyes, corneal ulcers, and in extreme cases total blindness. This advice comes from Rui Azevedo Guerreiro and Rui Ribeiro of the Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central in Portugal, who reviewed what little research there currently is on the occurrence of eye conditions following bariatric surgery. The review is published in Springer's journal Obesity Surgery.
Lapses in infection control associated with spread of severe respiratory virus MERS, according to study Little is known about the often fatal virus known as Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), but researchers have identified gaps in infection control as a major culprit in all eleven published cases involving healthcare-associated transmission of the virus. The full findings of the review can be found in the December issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).
Restrooms: Not as unhealthy as you might think Microbial succession in a sterilized restroom begins with bacteria from the gut and the vagina, and is followed shortly by microbes from the skin. Restrooms are dominated by a stable community structure of skin and outdoor associated bacteria, with few pathogenic bacteria making them similar to other built environments such as your home. The research is published ahead of print in Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
SPLUNC1: How lungs protect themselves from infection Scientists have taken an important step toward a new class of antibiotics aimed at stopping lung infections. They found that a protein found in large airways, called "SPLUNC1," binds to lipids critical to defending against bacterial and viral infections, as well as keeping lung tissue flexible and hydrated. This discovery moves SPLUNC1 closer toward becoming a viable therapy and was reported in the December 2014 issue of The FASEB Journal.
Plant used in traditonal Chinese medicine may treat metabolic diseases and obesity New research published in the December 2014 issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, shows that a component found in in the plant, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, may inhibit the development of metabolic disorders by stopping the activation of NLRP3, a protein involved in the disease process. Specifically, the researchers identified isoliquiritigenin as having the ability to attenuate high-fat, diet-induced obesity, type 2 diabetes and hepatic steatosis in mice.
Supplemental co-enzyme Q may prevent heart disease in some individuals New research involving rats, and published in the December 2014 issue of The FASEB Journal, suggests that if you were born at a low birth weight, supplemental co-enzyme Q (CoQ) may lower your risk for heart disease. This enzyme, which is naturally made in the body, is required to ensure the proper functioning of cell mitochondria and also protects cells from oxidative damage. Feeding low birth weight rat offspring extra CoQ prevented the age-associated damage that causes heart disease. Additionally, the reports shows that CoQ is reduced in white blood cells from low birth weight offspring, and levels of CoQ in the blood can be an indicator of how much damage to the aorta has already occurred.
Researchers find silver lining playbook for performance If we believe a negative trait we possess is linked to a related positive characteristic, we will be more productive in that domain, New York University researchers have found. Their study, which appears in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, establishes a novel "silver lining theory": negative attributes can produce positive results.
First tests of Italy suspect flu vaccine negative The Italian Pharmaceutical Agency (AIFA) said Monday it has now been notified of 19 deaths among people who had recently taken a Novartis flu vaccine but that initial testing had ruled out contamination of two batches of the drug which were taken out of circulation last week.
Skipping college makes young people more likely to abuse pain pills A study just released by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health compared the use of prescription opioids and stimulants among high school graduates, non-graduates, and their college-attending peers, and found that young adults who do not attend college are at particularly high risk for nonmedical prescription opioid use and disorder. In contrast, the nonmedical use of prescription stimulants is higher among college-educated young adults. Results of the study are published online in the journal Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology.
	Sophisticated HIV diagnostics adapted for remote areas Diagnosing HIV and other infectious diseases presents unique challenges in remote locations that lack electric power, refrigeration, and appropriately trained health care staff. To address these issues, researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have developed a low-cost, electricity-free device capable of detecting the DNA of infectious pathogens, including HIV-1. The device uses a small scale chemical reaction, rather than electric power, to provide the heat needed to amplify and detect the DNA or RNA of pathogens present in blood samples obtained from potentially infected individuals.
Cheaper private health care prices mean more Medicare spending When private prices for health care services decrease, Medicare spending increases, according to a new study. The finding raises the possibility that physicians and hospitals may be shifting some services to Medicare when they stand to make more money by doing so—though further research will be needed to clearly identify the cause, according to the study's authors.
	Minute movements of autistic children and parents provide clue to severity of disorder Imperceptible variations in movement patterns among individuals with autism spectrum disorder are important indicators of the severity of the disorder in children and adults, according to a report presented at the 2014 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in November.
Targets being met against 'stupid' Ebola, claims WHO Key targets to reduce the spread of Ebola by isolating patients and burying bodies safely have been reached in Liberia and Guinea but have been missed in Sierra Leone, the World Health Organization said Monday.
Genetic marker may help predict success of kidney transplants Kidneys donated by people born with a small variation in the code of a key gene may be more likely, once in the transplant recipient, to accumulate scar tissue that contributes to kidney failure, according to a study led by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and published today in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Teenagers, children missing out in AIDS fight Greater efforts are needed in the fight against AIDS to reach at-risk teenagers and children who are failing to get as much help as other communities, US officials warned Monday.
Canada pledges $440 million to vaccinate poor children Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Friday his government would provide support worth hundreds of millions of dollars towards life-saving vaccines for children around the world.
UN: More than 16,000 people sickened with Ebola More than 16,000 people have been infected with Ebola and nearly 7,000 have died, according to the latest figures from the World Health Organization.
Ebola toll nears 7,000: WHO Nearly 7,000 people have died from Ebola in west Africa, the World Health Organization said late Friday, adding some 1,200 more deaths to a toll from two days earlier.
Moscow medics rally against hospital closures, job cuts Thousands of poorly paid Russian medics and opposition supporters marched in central Moscow and other Russian cities Sunday to protest against controversial health reforms that will lead to hospital closures and job losses.
Health boost in British budget update as election looms British finance minister George Osborne said Sunday that his pre-election budget update this week will contain a financial boost for the state-run National Health Service.
New approach with elderly addicts at nursing home A surge in baby boomers is driving up the number of elderly people abusing drugs or alcohol, and a New York City nursing home is trying a new approach to addressing the problem.
Water-borne disease plagues IS-held city in Iraq When Islamic State group fighters swept into northern Iraq's second city Mosul in a lightning June offensive, their propaganda trumpeted a better life for the people under jihadist rule.
Brits say commuting is a pain in the neck… and back, hips and knees One fifth (19%) of the UK's workforce say their journey to and from work is leaving them with neck, back and muscle pain.
Many Australians with missing teeth don't need dentures (Medical Xpress)—The latest research from the University of Adelaide challenges current thinking on whether many people with tooth loss really need dentures.
	Ethiopia tests thousands for HIV in record attempt More than 3,300 people were tested for HIV Sunday in the Ethiopian region of Gambella, a massive turnout that exceeded expectations among AIDS campaigners who had hoped to test 2,000 people, according to local officials.
Patent awarded for synthetic compounds with medical applications A patent has been issued for a series of synthetic compounds developed at Kansas State University that have applications for treating cancer and other diseases that affect cell communication.
Researchers explore 3-D microsurgical anatomy of brainstem A study using intricate fiber dissection techniques provides new insights into the deep anatomy of the human brainstem—and helps to define "safe entry zones" for neurosurgeons performing brainstem surgery, according to a special article published in Operative Neurosurgery, a quarterly supplement to Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.
Health information exchanges should be better examined, study finds While policymakers and health care professionals have identified health information exchanges—organizations that facilitate the sharing of patient medical information electronically between different organizations—as a promising solution to fragmented health care delivery in the United States, a RAND Corporation review found that few of the more than 100 such organizations have been evaluated.
Mutation associated with premature ovarian failure identified Premature ovarian failure (POF) is estimated to affect 1-4% of the female population. Women with POF can present with a variety of symptoms and many genes have been linked to this condition.
A quarter of SAfrica's HIV carriers are young women About one quarter of South Africans newly infected by HIV are girls and women between the ages of 15 and 24, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said Monday.
	WHO says Liberia, Guinea meeting Ebola targets Liberia and Guinea have met a Dec. 1 target for isolating 70 percent of people infected with Ebola and safely burying 70 percent of those who die, the World Health Organization said Monday.
Big city health departments lead the way in improving population health The health departments of the nation's largest cities play a central role in developing innovative population health strategies for improving public health across the United States, according to a special January issue of the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice.
Prompt, appropriate medical care for dislocated shoulder injuries Prompt and appropriate treatment of a dislocated shoulder—when the head of the upper arm bone (humerus) is completely knocked out of the shoulder socket (glenoid)—can minimize risk for future dislocations as well as the effects of related bone, muscle and nerve injuries, according to a literature review appearing in the December issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS).
Pfizer closes $635M vaccines purchase from Baxter Pfizer has completed its $635 million purchase from Baxter International Inc. of two vaccines and part of the factory in Orth, Austria, where they're made.
Blocking blood-brain barrier proteins may improve ALS drugs' effectiveness Through research in mice, scientists have found that proteins at the blood-brain barrier pump out riluzole, the only FDA-approved drug for ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, limiting the drug's effectiveness. However, when the investigators blocked these proteins, the effectiveness of riluzole increased and the animals experienced improved muscle function, slower disease progression, and prolonged survival.
How terrorist attack survivors view their interactions with the media Among survivors of the 2011 Utøya Island terrorist attack in Norway, most perceived contact with media as a positive experience. Among those who allowed themselves to be interviewed by the media, 13% found the experience distressing and 11% regretted participating.
Lung treatment may help patients with severe emphysema The first long-term clinical trial on the use of Lung Volume Reduction (LVR-) Coil treatment in patients with severe emphysema has found that the minimally-invasive therapy, which enables the lung to function more effectively, is safe over a 3-year period. The results are published in Respirology.
Experts question aspects of certain Ebola guidelines Various guidelines for caring for patients infected with Ebola virus are being issued from different national and state public health authorities, professional societies, and individual hospitals. Experts are questioning aspects of some of the guidelines that go beyond current CDC recommendations, especially those that call for suspending certain routine lab tests.
Some people may be genetically susceptible to UV tanning dependence Researchers have found a possible underlying genetic susceptibility to being dependent on UV tanning.
UN: Children lag sharply in antiretroviral effort A United Nations report says global efforts to provide antiretroviral therapy to children with HIV lags sharply compared to adults.

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