Fwd: Science X Newsletter Thursday, Feb 12

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Fri, Feb 13, 2015 at 2:45 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Thursday, Feb 12
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for February 12, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Team makes stride in explaining 30-year-old 'hidden order' physics mystery
- Application of laser microprobe technology to Apollo samples refines lunar impact history
- Earliest-known arboreal and subterranean ancestral mammals discovered
- Scientists get first glimpse of a chemical bond being born
- Inkjet-printing system could enable mass-production of large-screen and flexible OLED displays
- Scientists have taken a big step toward the rational design of catalysts
- Exotic states materialize with supercomputers
- Eight million tons: Researchers calculate the magnitude of plastic waste going into the ocean
- Exploded star blooms like a cosmic flower
- Squid recode their genetic make-up on-the-fly to adjust to their surroundings
- Lab-in-a-box takes aim at doctors' computer activity
- Spontaneous activity shapes neuron development
- Microbes prevent malnutrition in fruit flies—and maybe humans, too
- FANTOM5 project discovers general rules governing how cells change
- New fluorescent protein permanently marks neurons that fire

Astronomy & Space news

	Application of laser microprobe technology to Apollo samples refines lunar impact history It's been more than 40 years since astronauts returned the last Apollo samples from the moon, and since then those samples have undergone some of the most extensive and comprehensive analysis of any geological collection. A team led by ASU researchers has now refined the timeline of meteorite impacts on the moon through a pioneering application of laser microprobe technology to Apollo 17 samples.
	NASA unveils possible submarine design for exploring liquid methane seas on Titan (w/ Video) (Phys.org)—NASA has unveiled at this year's Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Symposium (and posted a video on Youtube) a possible design for a submersible robot for use in exploring the liquid methane/ethane seas on Saturn's moon Titan. The video and sub design were created by NASA Glenn's COMPASS Team along with some researchers from Applied Research Lab. The call for the design came from workers with the NASA NIAC Program, which of course is tasked with coming up with ideas for new ways to explore space and the celestial bodies in it.
	The search for volcanic eruptions on Mars reaches the next level A new study of emissions from Martian volcanoes suggests there is no activity going on right now, but researchers aren't ruling out recent eruptions.
	Mismatched twin stars spotted in the delivery room The majority of stars in our galaxy come in pairs. In particular, the most massive stars usually have a companion. These fraternal twins tend to be somewhat equal partners when it comes to mass - but not always. In a quest to find mismatched star pairs known as extreme mass-ratio binaries, astronomers have discovered a new class of binary stars. One star is fully formed while the other is still in its infancy.
	Exploded star blooms like a cosmic flower Because the debris fields of exploded stars, known as supernova remnants, are very hot, energetic, and glow brightly in X-ray light, NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has proven to be a valuable tool in studying them. The supernova remnant called G299.2-2.9 (or G299 for short) is located within our Milky Way galaxy, but Chandra's new image of it is reminiscent of a beautiful flower here on Earth.
	Talking Japanese space robot back on Earth A pint-sized Japanese robot that became the first android to converse with an astronaut in space has returned to Earth after 18 months in orbit, project organisers said Thursday.
	Mars rover nearing marathon achievement NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity is nearing a location on Mars at which its driving distance will surpass the length of a marathon race.
	Image: Giant filament seen on the sun A dark, snaking line across the lower half of the sun in this Feb. 10, 2015 image from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) shows a filament of solar material hovering above the sun's surface. SDO shows colder material as dark and hotter material as light, so the line is, in fact, an enormous swatch of colder material hovering in the sun's atmosphere, the corona.
	Scientists ship instrument that will expand view of global lightning An expanded view of lightning around the globe is coming closer for scientists at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), thanks to a repurposed measuring instrument.
	The number of asteroids we could visit and explore has just doubled There's a famous line from Shakespeare's Hamlet that says "There are more things in heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy," and the same now holds true for brave new worlds for humans to explore.
	250 years of planetary detection in 60 seconds Early astronomers realized some of the "stars" in the sky were planets in our Solar System, and really, only then did we realize Earth is a planet too. Now, we're finding planets around other stars, and thanks to the Kepler Space Telescope, we're able to find planets that are even smaller than Earth.
European to capsule leaving space station, skipping test A European cargo ship is set to depart the International Space Station this weekend. But it will re-enter the atmosphere and burn up the next day, skipping a special descent test because of a problem.
	The search for alternative chemistries of life heats up Ideas about directing evolution of life forms on Earth and finding life on other planets are rapidly morphing from science-fiction fantasy into mainstream science, says David Lynn, a chemist at Emory University."
Video: Vega VV04 liftoff Replay of the liftoff of Vega VV04 with ESA's Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle, IXV, launched from Kourou, French Guiana on 11 February 2015.

Medicine & Health news

	Scientists overturn dogma on the bubonic plague For decades, scientists have thought the bacteria that cause the bubonic plague hijack host cells at the site of a fleabite and are then taken to the lymph nodes, where the bacteria multiply and trigger severe disease. But UNC School of Medicine researchers discovered that this accepted theory is off base. The bacteria do not use host cells; they traffic to lymph nodes on their own and not in great numbers.
	Common biomarkers of sleep debt found in humans, rats, study finds Stating that sleep is an essential biological process seems as obvious as saying that the sun rises every morning. Yet, researchers' understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of sleep loss is still in its earliest stages. The risk for a host of metabolic disorders, including weight gain, diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease, associated with reduced sleep is driving basic investigations on the topic.
	Bilingual infants lip-read more than monolingual infants New research from Northeastern developmental psychologist David J. Lewkowicz shows that infants learning more than one language do more lip-reading than infants learning a single language.
	Reality is distorted in brain's maps The brain's GPS would be worthless if it simply contained maps of our surroundings that were not aligned to the real world. But we now know how this is done.
	Spontaneous activity shapes neuron development A process previously thought to be mere background noise in the brain has been found to shape the growth of neurons as the brain develops, according to research from the MRC Centre for Developmental Neurobiology (MRC CDN), Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), published in Cell Reports.
	Key to blocking influenza virus may lie in a cell's own machinery Viruses are masters of outsourcing, entrusting their fundamental function - reproduction - to the host cells they infect. But it turns out this highly economical approach also creates vulnerability.
	New fluorescent protein permanently marks neurons that fire A new tool developed at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Janelia Research Campus lets scientists shine a light on an animal's brain to permanently mark neurons that are active at a particular time. The tool—a fluorescent protein called CaMPARI—converts from green to red when calcium floods a nerve cell after the cell fires. The permanent mark frees scientists from the need to focus a microscope on the right cells at the right time to observe neuronal activity.
	Curious monkeys share our thirst for knowledge Monkeys are notoriously curious, and new research has quantified just how eager they are to gain new information, even if there are not immediate benefits. The findings offer insights into how a certain part of the brain shared by monkeys and humans plays a role in decision making, and perhaps even in some disorders and addictions in humans.
	Scientists tackle issue of how to get a first date in a digital world Choosing a screen name with a letter starting in the top half of the alphabet is as important as an attractive photo and a fluent headline in the online dating game, reveals an analysis of the best ways of finding love in the digital world, and published online in the journal Evidence Based Medicine.
Researchers find new mechanism that controls immune responses UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have identified a common signaling mechanism to produce interferon - one of the main proteins used to signal the immune system when the body needs to defend itself against a virus, tumor, or other diseases.
	Post-op infection rate low for minimally invasive spine Sx (HealthDay)—For patients undergoing posterior transtubular microscopic assisted spinal surgery, the postoperative infection rate is very low, according to a study published in the Feb. 1 issue of Spine.
Hand washing focus in hospitals has led to rise in worker dermatitis A new study from The University of Manchester has revealed that the incidence of dermatitis has increased 4.5 times in health care workers following increased hand hygiene as a drive to reduce infections such as MRSA has kicked in.
	Plant-based diet may reduce obese children's risk of heart disease Obese children who begin a low-fat, plant-based vegan diet may lower their risk of heart disease through improvements in their weight, blood pressure, body mass index, cholesterol levels, insulin sensitivity, and high-sensitivity C-reactive, according to Cleveland Clinic research published online today by The Journal of Pediatrics.
	BMJ investigation reveals network of links between public health scientists and sugar industry Public health scientists and a government committee working on nutritional advice receive funding from the very companies whose products are widely held to be responsible for the obesity crisis, an investigation by The BMJ reveals today.
Government failure to ensure young driver safety costing lives and money A year after asking the UK government to take urgent action to reduce deaths and injuries associated with young drivers, there has been no progress, say public health experts, road safety groups and insurance industry representatives in The BMJ this week.
Experts question value of current obesity treatments The mantra in obesity treatment is 'eat less and move more'. But a leading group of obesity experts writing in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology question the belief that this is sufficient to treat obesity. They argue that obesity is a chronic disease with largely biological causes that cannot be cured with just diet and exercise.
	Swedish children visit virtual hospital before surgery Felicia Zander had a brain hemorrhage when she was six and spent more than a year in and out of hospital for x-rays, MRIs and about a dozen operations under general aesthetic.
	Cerebral palsy – it can be in your genes An international research group led by a team at the University of Adelaide has made what they believe could be the biggest discovery into cerebral palsy in 20 years.
	Psychological factors play a part in acupuncture for back pain People with back pain who have low expectations of acupuncture before they start a course of treatment will gain less benefit than those people who believe it will work, according to new Arthritis Research UK-funded research.
	It's time to look at how we value home care work There are two million home care workers in the United States. They change diapers, administer medications, bathe and dress people and transfer the immobile from one place to another. They also take care of tasks that are mundane annoyances to most of us—doing the dishes, cooking, vacuuming—but that make a world of difference to an elderly or disabled person who hopes to maintain a sense of dignity and security as they age at home.
	Immune 'traffic jam' from viral infection interferes with therapeutic antibodies Several drugs now used to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases are actually repurposed tools derived from the immune system. One of the ways these "therapeutic antibodies" work is to grab onto malignant or inflammatory cells and escort them to their doom.
Johnson & Johnson projects aim to spot who'll get a disease Imagine being able to identify people likely to develop a particular disease—and then stop it before it starts. This isn't a science fiction tale. It's the ambitious goal of three research projects just launched by Johnson & Johnson's pharmaceutical research arm, Janssen Research & Development, that the company says are aimed at redefining health care.
The impact of genital mutilation on mothers and babies UTS midwifery and public health researchers have led Australia's first study of the obstetric outcomes for women with female genital mutilation (FGM) and its impact on their babies.
Group recommends large-scale collaborative research into pain management The feasibility of conducting larger-scale research studies on nondrug approaches for pain management in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) should be assessed by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This recommendation was delivered in a report by a working group of the Center's Advisory Council.
Swiss tourist dies of swine flu in India as toll mounts A Swiss tourist died Thursday of swine flu while visiting India, a local health official said, as the country grapples with an outbreak that has killed more than 400 people since the start of 2015.
	High-intensity interval training benefits chronic stroke patients High-intensity interval training is a promising rehabilitation strategy for chronic stroke patients and may be superior to the current guidelines of moderate-intensity continuous exercise, new research from the University of Cincinnati (UC) shows.
	Researchers show brain activity can predict increased fat intake following sleep deprivation Experts have warned for years that insufficient sleep can lead to weight gain. A new Penn Medicine study found that not only do we consume more food following a night of total sleep deprivation, but we also we consume more fat and less carbohydrates and a region of the brain known as the salience network is what may lead us to eat more fat. The new findings are published in Scientific Reports.
	The secrets of longevity After numerous studies, it appears that scientists are beginning to unravel some of the secrets of aging. Genes certainly play a role in longevity, but it's been determined that only 35 percent of those living well into their 90's and 100's possess the longevity gene. What of the other 65 percent? Is it luck, healthy lifestyle choices, attitude?
Balancing bone formation and degradation key to osteoporosis treatment Most existing treatments for pathological bone loss inhibit osteoclasts (bone-destroying cells) to limit bone degradation. However, by doing this, they also prevent bone formation since it is stimulated by the presence of these very same osteoclast cells. Researchers from the CNRS, Inserm and the Université de Montpellier and Université Jean Monnet - Saint-Étienne have developed a new approach for preventing the destructive activity of osteoclasts without affecting their viability. This involves disrupting their anchorage to the bone, which has been found to be possible using a small chemical compound called C21. This innovative treatment can protect mice from bone loss associated with osteolytic diseases such as post-menopausal osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and bone metastasis, without affecting bone formation. This research was published on 3 February 2015 in the journal Nature Communications.
	New drug development to focus on the genetics of cervical cancer University of Huddersfield researcher Dr Tsitsi Chituku is taking part in a project that seeks to learn more about the genetic factors that make some women more susceptible to cervical cancer. It was a recent visit to Africa, to carry out a health screening project involving hundreds of women, which helped to shape the emphasis of her research.
Expert welcomes new schizophrenia guidance Dr Craig Steel, Deputy Director of the University of Reading's Charlie Waller Institute for Evidence Based Psychological Treatments and an expert on schizophrenia, welcomes National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Schizophrenia quality standard but says the NHS must now act on it.
Is depression a barrier to communication in couples? A massive 6.7% of the US population are affected by depressive disorders. As well as pessimism, irritability, pain and exhaustion, depression is also proven to affect communication and ability to maintain relationships. This article in Communication Monographs explores depression and relational uncertainty within couples and the causal effect on communication behaviours.
Instructional DVD reduces MRI scan patients' anxiety and improves scan quality A DVD designed to help people prepare for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan, including guidance on how to relax, led to more successful scans. The patients receiving the DVD also felt less anxious during the scan says a paper published in the British Journal of Health Psychology.
	Motorized cycling may prime brain for relearning after stroke Exercise on a motorized stationary bike appeared to give stroke patients an advantage in relearning everyday tasks and improved motor function of their arms, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2015.
Dehydration linked to worsening stroke conditions People who are well hydrated at the time of their stroke have a greater chance of better recovery compared to people who are dehydrated, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2015.
Stroke survivors may be at higher risk of having cancer People who had a stroke may develop cancer at a higher rate than those who do not have a stroke, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2015.
Parents experience post-traumatic stress disorder after child's stroke Parents of children who have suffered a stroke can experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the children show signs of clinical anxiety, factors that could interfere with treatment and outcomes, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2015.
	Young adult survivors most distressed after leukemia and lymphoma treatment Two University of Colorado Cancer Center studies published in the Journal of Psychosocial Oncology show that young adult survivors (ages 18-39) of leukemia and lymphoma are more likely to report high distress than older survivors (ages 65+). Specifically, 45 percent of younger patients report moderate-to-high distress, whereas only 18 percent of older patients report similarly elevated levels. Interestingly, in both groups this distress was not affected by time since treatment - distress was just as likely to be high in survivors who had completed treatment four years prior as in survivors who were three months out of treatment.
Cancer patients rarely demand unnecessary tests and treatments Physicians often blame patient demands for contributing to high medical costs, however, a new study involving more than 5,000 patient-clinician visits indicates that cancer patients rarely push for unnecessary tests and treatments from their health care providers.
Genomic profiling for cancer of unknown primary site Genomic profiling of cancer of an unknown primary site (CUP) found at least one clinically relevant genomic alteration in most of the samples tested, an indication of potential to influence and personalize therapy for this type of cancer, which responds poorly to nontargeted chemotherapy treatments, according to a study published online by JAMA Oncology.
Physician-controlled decisions in cancer care linked to lower quality rating Patients who described physician-controlled decisions about their cancer care versus shared decision-making were less likely to report receiving excellent quality of care, according to a study published online by JAMA Oncology.
Estimates of gastric, breast cancer risk in carriers of CDH1 gene mutations More precise estimates of age-associated risks of gastric and breast cancer were derived for carriers of the CDH1 gene mutation, a cancer predisposing gene that is abnormal in families meeting criteria for clinically defined hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC), according to a study published online by JAMA Oncology.
	The neural basis of 'being in the mood' What determines receptivity or rejection towards potential sexual partners? For people, there are many factors that play a part, appearance, culture, age, are all taken into account. But what part does the internal state of the individual play? The functioning of our bodies is maintained through a complicated system of hormonal signals. Some of these signals vary along different physiological rhythms, such as the menstrual cycle. How do changes in hormone-levels affect the activity of individuals' brains and their behaviour?
	Researchers design 'evolutionary trap' to thwart drug resistance Cancer is a notoriously evasive disease. It can adopt multiple identities, accumulating mutations or even gaining or losing whole chromosomes to create genetic variants of itself that are resistant to whatever drug is thrown its way.
Physicians promote screening strategies for those at high-risk for melanoma Melanoma, the most deadly type of skin cancer, was to blame for approximately 9,700 deaths in 2014. And with the number of melanoma cases increasing each year, it is believed that the disease could become one of the most common types of cancer in the United States by 2030. Promoting and developing national screening strategies may help to reduce deaths due to melanoma. According to Vernon K. Sondak, M.D., chair of the Department of Cutaneous Oncology at Moffitt Cancer Center, "it is time to embrace the opportunity to decrease melanoma mortality through risk-stratified education and screening."
	Finding points to possible mechanism underpinning Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases Scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have for the first time discovered a killing mechanism that could underpin a range of the most intractable neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and ALS.
	Ebola study in macaques provides timeframes for post-mortem viral stability To determine how long Ebola virus could remain infectious in a body after death, National Institutes of Health (NIH) scientists sampled deceased Ebola-infected monkeys and discovered the virus remained viable for at least seven days. They also detected non-infectious viral RNA for up to 70 days post-mortem.
	Fatal cancer found among Southern Nevada residents likely caused by asbestos in nature Southern Nevada counties that include Las Vegas show high proportions of women and younger residents coming down with a rare and aggressive cancer more commonly found in older men occupationally exposed to asbestos, suggesting that naturally occurring mineral fibers in that region are a contributing source of the cancers, University of Hawai'i Cancer Center researchers have found.
	An aggressive form of HIV uncovered in Cuba Engaging in unprotected sex with multiple partners increases the risk of contracting multiple strains of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Once inside a host, these strains can recombine into a new variant of the virus. One such recombinant variant observed in patients in Cuba appears to be much more aggressive than other known forms of HIV. Patients progress to AIDS within three years of infection - so rapidly that they may not even realise they were infected.
Two cell-signaling molecules found to suppress the spread of melanoma In what is believed to be the largest epigenetic analysis to date of cell-signaling molecules in early-stage melanoma, researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center and its Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center have identified two tiny bits of non-coding genetic material in primary tumors that appear critical to stalling the cancer's spread—and essentially setting the biological fate of the disease.
Live assessment of blood formation Since ancient times, humankind has been aware of how important blood is to life. Naturalists speculated for thousands of years on the source of the body's blood supply. For several centuries, the liver was believed to be the site where blood forms. In 1868, however, the German pathologist Ernst Neumann discovered immature precursor cells in bone marrow, which turned out to be the actual site of blood cell formation, also known as hematopoiesis. Blood formation was the first process for which scientists formulated and proved the theory that stem cells are the common origin that gives rise to various types of mature cells.
Study finds obese black and white women differ in how they view weight Low-income obese white women uniformly reported that weight negatively affects their lives and causes health problems. But half of their black contemporaries are comfortable with obesity, according to a new Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University Center for Aging Research study.
	People value resources more consistently when they are scarce We tend to be economically irrational when it comes to choosing how we use resources like money and time but scarcity can convert us into economically rational decision makers, according to research in Psychological Science.
Study finds positive trends in medical genetics education Today's physicians require an increasingly comprehensive understanding of the principles of genetics and genomics in order to make informed clinical decisions. Scientific discoveries are bringing genomic technology directly to consumers at an increasingly rapid pace. The availability of genomic information necessitates that educators provide adequate training in genetics and genomics for future health-care providers.
	Team publishes structural basis for HCV RNA replication In this week's issue of Science, researchers at Gilead Sciences, Inc. and Beryllium reveal new details about how the hepatitis C virus (HCV) replicates its genome. HCV is estimated to affect 150-200 million people worldwide and is the major cause of liver transplantation in the US.
Pediatricians turn away unvaccinated patients When the mother of an 18-month-old visited Dr. Charles Goodman's practice last week, he explained that under his new policy, the toddler would have to be immunized to remain a patient.
	Research defines more behaviors that reveal romantic attraction If you want to know whether people are flirting with you, look at what they say and do. Each person has a different tactic for communicating attraction, or flirting style, and new research suggests that during a short get-to-know-you conversation people show they're attracted in a way matches their flirting style.
Universal access to physical activity could save billions in health costs A little more than half of family health teams in Ontario offer physical activity services such as classes or counselling to encourage exercise among patients, and new research finds that standardizing access could help reduce the $6.8-billion cost associated with a sedentary lifestyle.
A brain system that appears to compensate for autism, OCD, and dyslexia Individuals with five neurodevelopmental disorders—autism spectrum disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, Tourette syndrome, dyslexia, and Specific Language Impairment—appear to compensate for dysfunction by relying on a single powerful and nimble system in the brain known as declarative memory.
	Study finds lack of ID checks for buying cigarettes in NYC An investigation by NYU's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development found that more than a quarter of New York City retailers did not request identification from young adults buying cigarettes. The study, published online in the BMJ journal Tobacco Control, was conducted in anticipation of the minimum purchase age for cigarettes rising from 18 to 21.
20-year study finds ethnic differences in links between diabetes risk and levels of tyrosine and other amino acids A study of white European and South Asian men in the UK has found that levels of the amino acid tyrosine, and several other amino acids, are more strongly associated with increased diabetes risk in the South Asian men. The study is published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes), and is by Dr Therese Tillin, UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University College London, UK, and colleagues.
Researchers reveal how mindfulness training affects health Over the past decade, there have been many encouraging findings suggesting that mindfulness training can improve a broad range of mental and physical health problems. Yet, exactly how mindfulness positively impacts health is not clear.
	Middle-aged men at highest risk of suicide after breathing poor air A new study from the University of Utah is adding to the small, but growing body of research that links air pollution exposure to suicide.
Six-day-old baby has youngest US heart transplant A six-day old premature baby has become the youngest infant to receive a heart transplant at a US hospital, doctors and her proud parents said Thursday.
	Number of hip replacements has skyrocketed, US report shows (HealthDay)—The number of hip replacements performed in the United States has increased substantially, and the procedure has become more common in younger people, new government statistics show.
	Mediterranean diet may lower stroke risk, study finds (HealthDay)—A Mediterranean diet may reduce your risk of one type of stroke, new research suggests.
	Proposed dietary guidelines not a green light to eat what you want (HealthDay)—People who follow a heart-healthy diet won't see much change in their eating habits if, as reported, this year's U.S. Dietary Guidelines report rescinds previous warnings against eating certain cholesterol-rich foods, dietitians say.
	Clot-busting drug may be safe for those with 'Wake-up' strokes (HealthDay)—The clot-busting drug known as tPA appears safe for those who wake up in the morning to find they've had a stroke, a small new study suggests.
	Specific NSAIDs increase nonfatal ischemic stroke risk (HealthDay)—Use of specific nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), diclofenac and aceclofenac, is associated with increased risk of nonfatal ischemic stroke, according to a study published online Jan. 22 in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.
	MetS prevalent among seniors at risk of mobility disability (HealthDay)—For older adults at high risk of mobility disability, metabolic syndrome is highly prevalent, according to a study published online Jan. 30 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Defensive neurosurgery up in states with high liability risk (HealthDay)—Neurosurgeons are more likely to practice defensive medicine in states with high state-level liability risk, according to a study published in the February issue of Neurosurgery.
	Mammography rates down since 2009 USPSTF guidelines (HealthDay)—Since the publication of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines for mammography in 2009, there has been a decrease in mammography rates among white, Hispanic, and Asian women, according to a study published online Feb. 9 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	Maternal smoking linked to shorter fetal telomere length (HealthDay)—Prenatal exposure to tobacco is associated with shorter fetal telomere length, according to research published in the February issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	The company you keep: Scientists reveal dual role for key T cell factor When fighting chronic viral infections or cancers, a key division of the immune system, known as CD8 T cells, sometimes loses its ability to effectively fight foreign invaders. Overcoming so-called T cell exhaustion is crucial to treating persistent infections but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood.
UN downplays US pullout of Ebola mission The US plan to pull troops out of West Africa will not leave a hole in the battle against Ebola, UN coordinator David Nabarro said Wednesday, but much work remains to get to zero cases.
Delay in schools restart announced in error: Liberia Education chiefs apologised on Thursday for wrongly announcing a postponement of the reopening of Ebola-hit Liberia's schools, blaming the mix-up on "problems at the ministry".
Health literacy key to improving health outcomes in South East Asia The South East Asia Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO), in partnership with Deakin University, has today (10 February) launched a set of health literacy tools and resources created to improve health and reduce inequalities for much of the world.
Big condoms partly to blame for Thai teen STI spike: ministry Thai health officials Thursday said teenagers who are too embarrassed to choose condoms that fit are partly to blame for a recent spike in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among their peers.
Bacteria, economics and our aging population At the end of January, Simin Nikbin Meydani, director of the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts (HNRCA) and a professor at the Friedman and Sackler schools, was an invited speaker at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
	Drug abuse in Iran rising despite executions, police raids Iran is breaking bad. Officials say methamphetamine production and abuse of hard drugs are skyrocketing in the country despite potentially lethal criminal penalties for users if they are caught. The increase is partly because of Iran's status as the gateway for the region's top drug exporter, Afghanistan—and partly because Iranian dealers are profiting so handsomely from sales to overstressed students and exhausted double-jobbers.
Ebola has lessons for local health departments' role in health crises Experience with the Ebola outbreak highlights local health departments' essential role in responding to global health threats posed by infectious diseases, according to a special article in the March/April issue of the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice.
	Ebola virus may have been present in West Africa long before 2014 outbreak It is not known what triggered the transmission of Ebola virus from its natural host to humans and the rapid human-to-human spread of the deadly virus throughout Western Africa last year. However, analysis of the blood of patients in Sierra Leone suspected of having Lassa fever, a severe viral illness, between 2011-2014, showed prior exposure to Ebola virus, suggesting that Ebola was present in the area well before the recent outbreak, as reported in Viral Immunology.
	Obama signs veterans suicide prevention bill Acknowledging the struggles of the nation's veterans, President Barack Obama on Thursday signed legislation intended to reduce the high rate of suicide that is claiming the lives of soldiers and former members of the military by the day.
Civilians ready to take over Ebola fight: US army The head of the United States army in Africa expressed confidence Thursday that civilians could take over the battle to eradicate Ebola as Washington prepared to scale down its military force fighting the epidemic.
	As sign-up deadline nears, a new risk for Obama health law Thousands of people signing up for health insurance this weekend may not realize it, but their coverage under President Barack Obama's law could be short-lived.
JMD publishes article on laboratory perspective of incidental findings reporting The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP), the premier global, non-profit organization serving molecular laboratory professionals, announced that The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics today published a Special Article titled, "Reporting Incidental Findings in Genomic Scale Clinical Sequencing - A Clinical Laboratory Perspective." This paper offers new and important perspectives from the laboratory highlighting the need for increased understanding and transparency of complex genomic testing. It also outlines important recommendations, including the need for laboratories to establish clear and patient-friendly policies for delivering ancillary information generated from genome-wide genetic tests.
Study provides insights on enzyme that helps direct the immune response to kidney injury An enzyme known to be important in the body's response to kidney injury exerts its protective effects, in part, by affecting the immune system, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). The findings could lead to new treatments for patients with acute kidney injury (AKI).
A high acid diet may have negative effects on kidney health For patients with chronic kidney disease, diets with a high acid content may increase their risk of developing kidney failure. The finding, which comes from a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN), suggests that patients may want to limit their intake of meats and increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables to help protect their kidneys.
	Last chance to enroll in obamacare for 2015 (HealthDay)—Americans eligible for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are facing an important deadline. This year's sign-up period ends Sunday, Feb. 15.

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