Fwd: Science X Newsletter Thursday, Jan 29

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From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Fri, Jan 30, 2015 at 2:43 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Thursday, Jan 29
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for January 29, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Generating Mobius strips of light: Researchers experimentally produce these structures from light polarization
- Just four bits of credit card data can identify most anyone (Update)
- Research group figures out a way to film a laser in normal air bouncing off mirrors (w/ Video)
- Immune cells from stressed mice found to lessen depression when injected into other mice
- Could a new proposed particle help to detect dark matter?
- Climate models don't over-predict warming, study shows
- Global warming won't mean more stormy weather
- CAT scan of nearby supernova remnant reveals frothy interior
- Baleen whales hear through their bones
- Ancient 'genomic parasites' spurred evolution of pregnancy in mammals
- Who's going to win? The answer could change by the hour
- New clues about a brain protein with high affinity for Valium
- Genetically engineered antibody-based molecules show enhanced HIV-fighting abilities
- Individuals may fail to navigate complex tradeoffs in privacy decision-making
- Researchers determine key element in circadian clock speed

Astronomy & Space news

	Cassini catches Titan naked in the solar wind (Phys.org)—Researchers studying data from NASA's Cassini mission have observed that Saturn's largest moon, Titan, behaves much like Venus, Mars or a comet when exposed to the raw power of the solar wind. The observations suggest that unmagnetized bodies like Titan might interact with the solar wind in the same basic ways, regardless of their nature or distance from the sun.
	How would the world change if we found extraterrestrial life? In 1938, Orson Welles narrated a radio broadcast of "War of the Worlds" as a series of simulated radio bulletins of what was happening in real time as Martians arrived on our home planet. The broadcast is widely remembered for creating public panic, although to what extent is hotly debated today.
	The tell-tale signs of a galactic merger The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured this striking view of spiral galaxy NGC 7714. This galaxy has drifted too close to another nearby galaxy and the dramatic interaction has twisted its spiral arms out of shape, dragged streams of material out into space, and triggered bright bursts of star formation.
	CAT scan of nearby supernova remnant reveals frothy interior Cassiopeia A, or Cas A for short, is one of the most well studied supernova remnants in our galaxy. But it still holds major surprises. Harvard-Smithsonian and Dartmouth College astronomers have generated a new 3-D map of its interior using the astronomical equivalent of a CAT scan. They found that the Cas A supernova remnant is composed of a collection of about a half dozen massive cavities - or "bubbles."
	Picasso CubeSat to investigate upper layers of the atmostphere The PICosatellite for Atmospheric and Space Science Observations (Picasso) CubeSat, designed to investigate the upper layers of Earth's atmosphere.
	Lofar's record-sharp image gives astronomers a new view of galaxy M82 An international team of astronomers led from Chalmers University of Technology has used the giant radio telescope Lofar to create the sharpest astronomical image ever taken at very long radio wavelengths. Made by observing simultaneously from four countries, including Sweden, the image shows the glowing centre of the galaxy Messier 82 – and many bright remnants of supernova explosions.
	Scientists launch CubeSats into radiation belts Twin, pintsized satellites built in part at the University of New Hampshire's Space Science Center will be launched into orbit from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 9:20 a.m. (EST) Thursday, January 29, 2015.
	Amazing impact crater where a triple asteroid smashed into Mars At first glance, you many not guess that this feature on Mars is an impact crater. The reason it looks so unusual is that it likely is a triple impact crater, formed when three asteroids struck all at once in the Elysium Planitia region.
	Weather delays NASA launch of satellite to study soil Windy weather forced NASA on Thursday to delay the launch of a satellite that aims to study soil moisture on Earth.
	NASA astronaut memorial stirs memories for shuttle veteran (Update) Each year around this time, NASA honors fallen astronauts, including the 17 men and women killed in three separate wintertime accidents in the sky and on the earth.

Medicine & Health news

	Immune cells from stressed mice found to lessen depression when injected into other mice (Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers working at the NIH–DHHS facility in Bethesda Maryland has found that injecting immune cells from mice that were stressed, caused lessened depression symptoms in other mice whose immune system had been compromised. In their paper published in The Journal of Neuroscience, the team describes their experiments with immune cell transfer in mice, and the implications of their results.
	Study identifies biological mechanisms for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression Common psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression share genetic risk factors related to immune function and DNA regulation, according to new findings by a large collaborative research project from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium involving UCLA, King's College London, Cardiff University, Harvard and MIT.
	Researchers design tailored tissue adhesives After undergoing surgery to remove diseased sections of the colon, up to 30 percent of patients experience leakage from their sutures, which can cause life-threatening complications.
	Infants create new knowledge while sleeping There is no rest for a baby's brain – not even in sleep. While infants sleep they are reprocessing what they have learned. Working with researchers from the University of Tübingen, scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig have discovered that babies of the age from 9 to 16 months remember the names of objects better if they had a short nap. And only after sleeping can they transfer learned names to similar new objects. The infant brain thus forms general categories during sleep, converting experience into knowledge. The researchers also showed that the formation of categories is closely related to a typical rhythmic activity of the sleeping brain called sleep spindles: Infants with high sleep spindle activity are particularly good at generalizing their experiences and developing new knowledge while sleeping.
	She's not interested in sex but he thinks she is Imagine the following scenario: a woman and a man are having a conversation. She is interested in the conversation, and is friendly, smiling and warm. He interprets her behavior as sexual interest.
	New deep-brain imaging reveals separate functions for nearly identical neurons Researchers at the UNC School of Medicine have used new deep-brain imaging techniques to link the activity of individual, genetically similar neurons to particular behaviors of mice. Specifically, for the first time ever scientists watched as one neuron was activated when a mouse searched for food while a nearly identical neuron next to it remained inactive; instead, the second neuron only became activated when the mouse began eating.
	Among gut microbes, strains, not just species, matter A large community of microorganisms calls the human digestive tract home. This dynamic conglomerate of microscopic life forms - the gut microbiome - is vital to how people metabolize various nutrients in their food, how their immune systems react to infection, and how they respond to various medications. Moreover, imbalances in the microbiome are thought to play a significant role in many human diseases.
	Study on dopamine neurons could instruct research into mobility and neurological disorders Scientists studying hatchling fish have made a new advance in studying a chemical in the brain that impacts on movement.
	Genetically engineered antibody-based molecules show enhanced HIV-fighting abilities Capitalizing on a new insight into HIV's strategy for evading antibodies—proteins produced by the immune system to identify and wipe out invading objects such as viruses—Caltech researchers have developed antibody-based molecules that are more than 100 times better than our bodies' own defenses at binding to and neutralizing HIV, when tested in vitro. The work suggests a novel approach that could be used to engineer more effective HIV-fighting drugs.
	Scientists discover how a 'mini-brain' in the spinal cord aids in balance Walking across an icy parking lot in winter—and remaining upright—takes intense concentration. But a new discovery suggests that much of the balancing act that our bodies perform when faced with such a task happens unconsciously, thanks to a cluster of neurons in our spinal cord that function as a "mini-brain" to integrate sensory information and make the necessary adjustments to our muscles so that we don't slip and fall.
	Complex environments push 'brain' evolution Little animations trying to master a computer game are teaching neuroscience researchers how the brain evolves when faced with difficult tasks.
	Physical education guidelines for healthier, happier, longer and more productive living The time children and adults all over the world spend engaging in physical activity is decreasing with dire consequences on their health, life expectancy, and ability to perform in the classroom, in society and at work.
	Which health messages work? Experts prefer negative ones, but the public follows positive ones Is it better to be positive or negative? Many of the most vivid public health appeals have been negative - "Smoking Kills" or "Drive, Drive, and Die" - but do these negative messages work when it comes to changing eating behavior?
Things to know about potential e-cigarette health concerns California's top health official Ron Chapman on Wednesday slammed electronic cigarettes as a growing health threat and announced plans for a public awareness campaign.
US doctors flag neurological risk in child virus cases US doctors on Thursday reported 12 cases of muscle weakness or paralysis among children in Colorado that may be linked to a nationwide outbreak of an usually rare respiratory virus.
Feelings of loneliness and depression linked to binge-watching television It seems harmless: getting settled in for a night of marathon session for a favorite TV show, like House of Cards. But why do we binge-watch TV, and can it really be harmless? A recent study by researchers at the University of Texas at Austin found that the more lonely and depressed you are, the more likely you are to binge-watch.
	Common pesticide may increase risk of ADHD A commonly used pesticide may alter the development of the brain's dopamine system—responsible for emotional expression and cognitive function – and increase the risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, according to a new Rutgers study.
	Love helps solve the puzzle of human evolution Humans have long been a puzzle to explain in evolutionary terms, but a Victoria University of Wellington researcher says part of the answer is romantic love and the pair-bonding it motivates.
Children with respiratory failure can be awake yet comfortable in ICU For small children, being hospitalized is an especially frightening experience above and beyond the challenges of whatever they are being treated for. They are often connected to a variety of unpleasant tubes and monitors, which they may instinctively try to remove.
Study shows menopause does not increase or create difficulty sleeping Women in their late thirties and forties who have trouble sleeping are more than three times more likely to suffer sleep problems during menopause than women who have an easier time getting shut-eye, according to a new study by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Only 25 percent of women who had reported no earlier sleep problems developed moderate or severe insomnia or other sleep disturbances during a 16-year period around menopause. What's more, the researchers say that these sleep woes did not appear to be caused by menopause itself, which may quell common fears about symptoms associated with this phase of life. The study, published in the journal Menopause, is among the first to document long-term sleep patterns in women in the years before, during and after menopause.
Child maltreatment not a clear path to adult crime Research has found a significant link between childhood abuse and neglect and crime in adulthood. But a recent University of Washington study finds that link all but disappears when accounting for other life factors.
	Porches an overlooked lead hazard A new study in the journal Environmental Health indicates that porches in older homes can be a significant source of lead dust and that housing regulations – which have been instrumental in lower rates of lead poisoning in recent years – need to be adapted to meet this threat to children's health.
	Rotavirus vaccine reduces severe diarrhoea by 64 percent in Malawi Research at the University of Liverpool has found that diarrhoea caused by rotavirus infection is significantly reduced in the developing world with the use of a vaccine to prevent the condition.
10 tips to prepare for pregnancy For women of childbearing age looking to become pregnant, it is never too early to engage in healthy habits to ensure that she has a healthy pregnancy and her child has a healthy first step.
Norway confirms 'atypical' case of mad cow disease Norwegian authorities confirmed an "atypical" case of mad cow disease Thursday but said that it posed no risk to public health.
	Elucidating the origin of MDR tuberculosis strains A study has focused on the evolutionary history of the mycobacterium that causes tuberculosis, and more specifically on the Beijing lineage associated with the spread of multidrug resistant forms of the disease in Eurasia. While confirming the East-Asian origin of this lineage, the results also indicate that this bacterial population has experienced notable variations coinciding with key events in human history. They also demonstrate that two multidrug resistant (MDR) clones of this lineage started to spread concomitantly with the collapse of the public health system in the former Soviet Union, thus highlighting the need to sustain efforts to control tuberculosis. Finally, this work has made it possible to identify new potential targets for the treatment and diagnosis of this disease.
	Researchers broaden the catalog of biological chimeras for the study of the genome Scientists from the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre's Structural Computational Biology Group, led by Alfonso Valencia, are making the largest ever catalogue of biological chimeras available to the public domain. Specifically, the new database comprises a c ollection of more than 29,000 small RNA molecules—those envolved in making proteins—that originate from different genomic regions. These molecules, the so-called chimeric RNAs, could reveal useful markers for the clinical oncology practice, and even novel drug targets for cancer treatment.
	Virtual bodyswapping reduces bias against other races In 1959, John Howard Griffin, a white American writer, underwent medical treatments to change his skin appearance and present himself as a black man. He then traveled through the segregated US south to experience the racism endured daily by millions of black Americans. This unparalleled life experiment provided invaluable insights into how the change in Griffin's own skin color triggered negative and racist behaviors from his fellow Americans.
	Decline in the physical skills of Australian kids Australians like to think themselves as sporting and fit – a concept reinforced by the success of the country's elite athletes. But evidence is emerging that Australian kids are falling behind their international peers and are performing worse in skills such as kicking, throwing, catching and jumping than they were 30 years ago.
'Nudge' psychology is not based on robust evidence and conscious decision-making is more effective The research by QMUL psychologist Dr Magda Osman, from the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, found that, contrary to the position taken by high-profile authors that the most effective decision-making takes place on an unconscious level, reliable evidence suggests that we usually make decisions consciously and people should be taking the time to think things through.
	Cosmetics have little effect on attractiveness judgments compared with identity The idea that cosmetics make you more attractive is all around us. The internet features thousands of tutorials on how to apply makeup, fashion magazines comment on different makeup styles of celebrities, and many women feel they wouldn't leave the house without it. This simple, day-to-day behaviour has also been the subject of scientific inquiry, with many studies finding that not only are women rated as more attractive with makeup, but also as healthier, more competent, and more likeable.
	Five things you need to know about the Chikungunya virus It's no secret that mosquitos are a huge headache for residents in South Florida. But what appears to be a routine mosquito bite could wind up being something much worse.
	Cancer fear can impact screening uptake People who worry about cancer are more likely to want to get screened for colon cancer, but feeling uncomfortable at the thought of cancer makes them less likely to actually go for the test, finds new UCL-led research.
	Immune cells are an ally, not enemy, in battle against Alzheimer's Beta-amyloid is a sticky protein that aggregates and forms small plaques in the brains of the elderly and is thought to be a cause of Alzheimer's disease. Because specialized immune cells always surround these plaques, many have theorized that these cells are responsible for inflammation and damage to surrounding brain cells.
Safer childbirth for women everywhere Few women in developed countries die of blood loss in childbirth, but in remote areas and developing countries, an estimated 100,000 die every year from post-partum haemorrhage.
Obesity and diabetes symptoms in mice improved by reversing brain inflammation Using an antioxidant to reverse inflammation in the brain caused by a high-fat diet greatly improves symptoms related to obesity and type II diabetes, a new study from New Zealand's University of Otago suggests.
Steroid therapy increases risk of blood clots five-fold in IBD patients Compared with biologic therapy, corticosteroid (steroid) use is associated with a nearly five-fold increase of venous thromboembolism in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, according to a new study in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association. Venous thromboembolism is a condition that includes both deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot deep in the veins) and pulmonary embolism (a sudden blockage in a lung artery caused by a blood clot).
	Physicians explore why children with sickle cell disease are experiencing mixed results on hydroxyur Electronic medication monitoring caps may help physicians put together the puzzle of why children taking a medicine that promises to curb sickle cell disease are showing mixed, confusing results.
Forecasting the flu better—through combo of 'big' and traditional data Three UC San Diego researchers say they can predict the spread of flu a week into the future with as much accuracy as Google Flu Trends can display levels of infection right now.
	Novel eye-tracking technology detects concussions and head injury severity New research out of NYU Langone Medical Center could move the medical community one step closer toward effectively detecting concussion and quantifying its severity.
How negative stereotyping affects older people The most comprehensive analysis to date of research on the effect of negative stereotypes on older people's abilities has concluded that these stereotypes create a significant problem for that demographic.
	Hydrogen sulfide could help lower blood pressure A gas that gives rotten eggs their distinctive odour could one day form the basis of new cardiovascular therapies. Research has indicated that a new compound, called AP39, which generates minute quantities of the gas hydrogen sulfide inside cells, could be beneficial in cases of high blood pressure and diseases of the blood vessels that occur with ageing and diabetes.
	HIV testing yields diagnoses in Kenya but few seek care Between December 2009 and February 2011, health workers with the AMPATH Consortium sought to test and counsel every adult resident in the Bunyala subcounty of Kenya for HIV. A study in the journal Lancet HIV reports that the campaign yielded more than 1,300 new positive diagnoses, but few of those new patients sought health care.
	Gender roles: Men and women are not so different after all Gender is a large part of our identity that is often defined by our psychological differences as men and women. Not surprisingly, those differences are reflected in many gender stereotypes - men rarely share their feelings, while women are more emotional - but an Iowa State University researcher says in reality men and women are more alike than we may think.
	Scientists develop compound to fight MRSA Microbiologists and chemists at the University of South Florida have developed and patented a synthetic compound that has shown antibiotic action against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, also known as MRSA, which can cause many serious infections and deaths.
Support found for peer-mentoring diabetes management program Managing type 1 diabetes is a never-ending task that requires multiple blood glucose tests, carbohydrate calculations and insulin injections or infusions. This constant effort to control the disease is daunting at any age - and it's especially challenging for teens and young adults.
Parkinson's gene linked to lung cancer Researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), in collaboration with other colleagues of the Genetic Epidemiology of Lung Cancer Consortium (GELCC), have identified a gene that is associated with lung cancer.
Identified the mechanism that controls localization of protein Rac1 in the cell nucleus The sustained presence in the nucleus of the protein known as Rac1 produces changes in nuclear morphology that are important in several biological processes, including malignant cancer. This is the finding of the research group directed by Dr. Miguel Ángel del Pozo at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), who, in the latest edition of Developmental Cell, describe the important impact that nuclear localization of this protein has on the capacity of cells to migrate and invade tissues.
Researchers provide insights for reducing drug overdoses through community education Results from a new study show that participants in drug overdose education programs tend to be parents (mostly mothers) who provide financial support for their son/daughter, have daily contact with their loved one, have applied for court-mandated treatment and have witnessed an overdose.
	Researchers discover brain circuit that controls compulsive overeating and sugar addiction Compulsive overeating and sugar addiction are major threats to human health, but potential treatments face the risk of impairing normal feeding behaviors that are crucial for survival. A study published January 29th in the journal Cell reveals a reward-related neural circuit that specifically controls compulsive sugar consumption in mice without preventing feeding necessary for survival, providing a novel target for the safe and effective treatment of compulsive overeating in humans.
Added fructose is a principal driver of type 2 diabetes Recent studies have shown that added sugars, particularly those containing fructose, are a principal driver of diabetes and pre-diabetes, even more so than other carbohydrates. Clinical experts writing in Mayo Clinic Proceedings challenge current dietary guidelines that allow up to 25% of total daily calories as added sugars, and propose drastic reductions in the amount of added sugar, and especially added fructose, people consume.
New minimally invasive test identifies patients for Barrett's esophagus screening A new minimally invasive cell sampling device coupled with assessment of trefoil factor 3 expression can be used to identify patients with reflux symptoms who warrant endoscopy to diagnose Barrett's esophagus, according to a study published by Rebecca Fitzgerald and colleagues from the MRC Cancer Unit, UK, in this week's PLOS Medicine.
	Transgender kids show consistent gender identity across measures A study with 32 transgender children, ages 5 to 12, indicates that the gender identity of these children is deeply held and is not the result of confusion about gender identity or pretense. The study, led by psychological scientist Kristina Olson of the University of Washington, is one of the first to explore gender identity in transgender children using implicit measures that operate outside conscious awareness and are, therefore, less susceptible to modification than self-report measures.
Crucial protective role observed for farnesoid-X receptor in cholestatic liver injury The farnesoid-X receptor (FXR), also known as the chief regulator of bile acid metabolism, is thought to play a role in some hepatobiliary and gastrointestinal disorders. In a study published in the American Journal of Pathology, researchers demonstrated dysfunctional intestinal FXR-signaling in a rat model of cholestatic liver injury, accompanied by intestinal bacterial translocation (BTL) and increased permeability and inflammation. Notably, a highly potent, selective FXR agonist obeticholic acid (INT-747) counteracted these effects, suggesting a potential new therapeutic avenue for liver disease.
	'Feeding and fasting' hormone adropin can improve insulin action In a study published in Molecular Metabolism, a SLU researcher has found that adropin, a hormone that regulates whether the body burns fat or sugar during feeding and fasting cycles, can improve insulin action in obese, diabetic mice, suggesting that it may work as a therapy for type 2 diabetes.
	Study finds texting may be more suitable than apps in treatment of mental illness Texting may be a more suitable treatment aid for those with mental illness than mobile applications.
Erectile dysfunction drugs could protect liver from sepsis-induced damage Drugs that are on the market to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) could have another use—they might be able to protect the liver from damage caused by sepsis, a systemic inflammatory response to infection, say researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. They recently published their findings in Science Signaling.
Obamacare Co-ops show promise and peril The Affordable Care Act includes a program designed to promote greater competitiveness in the health insurance marketplace by creating health insurance cooperatives. There are now more than 20 such entities serving 26 states comprising about 45 percent of the U.S. population. But with the recent high-profile failure of a co-op in Iowa and Nebraska, the fate of co-ops has come to seem perilous to some.
Heavy drinking in middle-age may increase stroke risk more than traditional factors Drinking more than two alcoholic beverages daily in middle-age may raise your stroke risk more than traditional factors such as high blood pressure and diabetes, according to new research in the American Heart Association journal Stroke.
Gut bacteria byproduct linked to chronic kidney disease for the first time Cleveland Clinic researchers have, for the first time, linked trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) - a gut metabolite formed during the digestion of egg-, red meat- or dairy-derived nutrients choline and carnitine - to chronic kidney disease.
Litchi fruit suspected in mystery illness in India A mysterious and sometimes fatal brain disease that has afflicted children in northeastern India for years could be linked to a toxic substance in litchi fruits, US researchers said Thursday.
	Flu's grip on U.S. starting to weaken: CDC (HealthDay)—After a rough start to the flu season, the number of infections seems to have peaked and is even starting to decline in many parts of the nation, federal health officials reported Thursday.
	Acne gel linked to rare side effect, doctors warn (HealthDay)—For certain people, the acne treatment Aczone may be linked to a rare blood disorder, a new case study contends.
	Nearly 1 in 10 adults skips meds due to cost, CDC says (HealthDay)—Nearly one in 10 American adults don't take their medications as prescribed because they can't afford to, health officials reported Thursday.
	Liberals, independents win life span sweepstakes, study claims (HealthDay)—Liberals are in luck when it comes to longevity, new research contends.
	Cost of meds contributes to placebo effect in Parkinson's (HealthDay)—Results of a small study suggest that Parkinson's patients seem to improve if they think they're taking a costly medication. The findings have been published online Jan. 28 in Neurology.
	Anxiety moderates amyloid-beta association with cognition (HealthDay)—For older adults, elevated amyloid-β (Aβ) levels correlate with cognitive decline, and elevated anxiety moderates these associations, according to a study published online Jan. 28 in JAMA Psychiatry.
	PDE-5 inhibitors tied to prostate cancer biochemical recurrence (HealthDay)—Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor use after radical prostatectomy is associated with increased risk of biochemical recurrence, according to a study published in the February issue of The Journal of Urology.
	Triglycerides significantly elevated in women with GDM (HealthDay)—For women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), triglycerides are significantly elevated throughout pregnancy, according to a review published online Jan. 22 in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology.
	Hepatitis A hospitalizations down from 2002 to 2011 (HealthDay)—From 2002 to 2011 there was a decrease in the rate of hospitalizations for hepatitis A, according to a study published in the February issue of Hepatology.
	Cerebrovascular reserve-based strategy is cost-effective (HealthDay)—A decision rule based on assessment of cerebrovascular reserve (CVR) seems to be cost-effective for prevention of stroke in asymptomatic patients with carotid artery stenosis, according to a study published in the February issue of Radiology.
Some doctors won't see patients with anti-vaccine views With California gripped by a measles outbreak, Dr. Charles Goodman posted a clear notice in his waiting room and on Facebook: His practice will no longer see children whose parents won't get them vaccinated.
Blood vessel calcification may put kidney stone formers at increased risk of heart disease Blood vessel calcification may put people who develop recurrent kidney stones at increased risk of heart disease, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN). The findings suggest that monitoring such calcification may help protect stone formers' heart health.
	Study shows Tamiflu gets patients back on their feet faster, reduces flu complications Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended the use of antiviral drugs to help treat influenza, in a year when the available vaccine is not a good match for the current strain.
New York blood shortages casualty of shutdown New York City issued an urgent call for blood donors Wednesday, saying supplies were low after authorities shut down America's largest city for a winter storm that failed to materialize.
Canada's Winnipeg still under boil-water advisory Residents of Canada's sixth-largest city were advised to keep boiling tap water before using it late Wednesday, even though latest tests showed no traces of harmful bacteria, officials said.
Cambodia bans 'virgin surgery' adverts The Cambodian government has ordered a hospital to stop advertising so-called virginity restoration procedures, saying it harms the "morality" of society.
UN warns Ebola epidemic 'not yet contained' The Ebola epidemic is decreasing but is still present in a third of the areas of the three worst affected west African nations, UN Ebola coordinator David Nabarro warned Thursday.
Mexico escalating the fight against breast cancer On Avenue San Fernando, a tree-lined street crowded with food stands, the new wing of Mexico's flagship cancer hospital gleams like a silver airplane. Barely a year old, the light-filled structure attached to the National Institute of Cancer of Mexico (Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, or INCan) represents a national commitment to cancer care for the poor.
	Research progresses on reduction of lung injuries caused by mechanical breathing The Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry of the Universitat de València is participating in pioneering research to advance the prevention of lung damage from mechanical ventilation in operations that require general anaesthesia. Professor Javier Belda and Dr. Carlos Ferrando have led experimental work that shows for the first time the utility of the stress index to adjust artificial ventilation supply in real time in order to avoid lung injuries. The results of this work are being published this week in the magazine Critical Care.
WHO says Ebola epidemic on the decline (Update) Weekly Ebola infections in west Africa have dropped to below 100 for the first time in more than six months, figures showed Thursday, raising hopes the worst-ever outbreak of the virus is coming to an end.
	Scrapping the National Children's Study is a mistake Environmental health research has confirmed that chronic, low-level exposure to toxins in our environment – including our food, air and water – can have a significant impact on our health. We need to expand our understanding of these threats to help educate the public, industry and government regulators about how to reduce our risk now and for future generations.
Study analyses internet, mobile and video game effects on young users A recent study has analysed the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) by secondary school students, by using a sample of 5,538 students from the Vallès Occidental region of Catalonia. The study, based on surveys taken in the 2010/2011 academic year, finds links between school failure and an elevated use of computers at home. It also correlates an intensive use if ICTS with the consumption of toxic substances.
Facelift surgery after massive weight loss poses challenges Patients undergoing bariatric surgery for severe obesity are often left with excess, sagging skin affecting all areas of the body—including the face. The unique challenges of facelift surgery in this group of patients—and effective techniques for addressing them—are presented in a paper in the February issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
	Are pornography users more likely to exhibit unsafe sexual behaviors? Sexual risk behaviors such as casual sex, lack of condom use, and a high number of sexual partners have been linked to poor health outcomes, including an increased incidence of sexually transmitted infections. A systematic review of published studies that determined whether a relationship exists between pornography consumption and increased sexual risk behaviors in adults is presented in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.
New research recommends treating elevated blood pressure during pregnancy Throughout her career in Canada and the UK, Dr. Laura Magee has taken a restrained approach to use of blood pressure-lowering medication in her pregnant patients, fearing that lowering pressure could reduce the flow of blood and vital nutrients to their babies.
	New potential therapeutic strategy against a very aggressive infant bone cancer Researchers at the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), led by Oscar Martínez Tirado participated in an international study which suggests inhibition of Sirtuin1 (SIRT1) protein as a future treatment option for metastatic Ewing sarcoma. The results of the study were published in the journal Cancer Research.
Internists join in brief urging supreme court to uphold ACA's premium subsidies The American College of Physicians (ACP) today - along with other health care organizations - submitted an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief to the Supreme Court of the United States in the King v. Burwell case, urging the court to uphold the premium subsidies created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in all states.
Public health amicus brief argues in support of administration position in King v. Burwell On March 4, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in King v. Burwell, a landmark case that takes aim at President Obama's Affordable Care Act (ACA). The ruling, expected sometime in June, will decide whether low and moderate income people living in the 34 states that rely on the federal health insurance exchange will still be able to get the subsidies they need to make health insurance affordable. A public health "friend-of-the-court" brief filed in the case yesterday argues that if the Court strikes down the subsidies, such a ruling would leave millions uninsured and ultimately could result in more than 9,800 preventable deaths every year.
	Survival of very premature infants is improving in France Since 2011, nearly 7,000 premature infants have been enrolled in the Inserm EPIPAGE 2 study. This study is aimed at assessing the survival of infants born between 22 and 34 weeks' gestation, and their subsequent outcomes. Compared with data from the EPIPAGE 1 cohort in 1997, the proportion of infants born in 2011 from the 25th week of gestation, who survived without severe neonatal disease, showed a definite increase. However, survival is still rare for infants born before 25 weeks. These results make it possible to establish the prognosis for very premature and extremely premature infants, and review the changes that have occurred in the last 15 years. They provide useful information to medical teams caring for infants and supporting families.
H5N1 bird flu spreads to 11 states in Nigeria: govt Nigeria on Thursday confirmed that the H5N1 strain of bird flu has spread from seven to 11 states within a week, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of poultry but no human cases.
	Black breast-feeding gatherings battle troubling health gaps Once a month, baby-toting young women gather in a YMCA conference room to share tips, talk about and demonstrate breast-feeding—an age-old yet sometimes shunned practice in their community.
	UC San Diego, UC San Francisco launch new cancer cell mapping initiative Researchers from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and University of California, San Francisco, with support from a diverse team of collaborators, have launched an ambitious new project - dubbed the Cancer Cell Map Initiative or CCMI - to determine how all of the components of a cancer cell interact.
Super Bowl alert after measles outbreak warning in Arizona Health authorities in Arizona are on alert after warning that 1,000 people may have been exposed to a measles outbreak as the US state prepares to host this weekend's Super Bowl.
Testing for EGFR mutations and ALK rearrangements is cost-effective in NSCLC Multiplexed genetic screening for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangements and subsequent biomarker-guided treatment is cost-effective compared with standard chemotherapy treatment without any molecular testing in the metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) setting in the United States.
	WHO: Ebola response shifts to ending epidemic Health officials are now focused on ending the biggest-ever Ebola outbreak rather than just slowing the deadly virus' spread, the World Health Organization said Thursday.
Kidney-brain connection may help drive chronic kidney disease In addition to affecting blood pressure, high-salt intake can promote kidney function decline in patients with chronic kidney disease. A study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN) reveals that the effects of salt consumption on the kidneys are mediated at least in part by brain-kidney interactions. The findings suggest new strategies for protecting patients' kidney health.

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