The National Hand Hygiene Initiative run in Australian hospitals successfully reduced risks of a potentially deadly and costly-to-treat ‘golden staph’ infection. [ + ]

Hunched over, hardly moving for hours on end, hitting the same buttons again and again in the hope of a future reward … sound familiar? It does to Selena Bartlett, from the Queensland University of Technology. [ + ]

New Zealand has been shaken again by Sunday's earthquake - and new research published in the New Zealand Medical Journal reveals that post-disaster psychological symptoms can persist for more than 18 months for some individuals. [ + ]

In a world-first survey study, researchers from the University of Sydney and Centenary Institute have highlighted the need for better psychological support for families affected by sudden cardiac death due to a genetic heart disease (SCD). [ + ]

Our instinct for facial mimicry allows us to empathise with and even experience other people's feelings. When you smile it makes everyone in the room feel better because they, consciously or unconsciously, are smiling with you. If we can't mirror another person's face, it limits our ability to read and properly react to their expressions. A Review of this emotional mirroring appears February 11 in Trends in Cognitive Sciences. [ + ]

Pick up your free ticket and visit us at the Australian Healthcare Week 2016 Expo, Australia’s largest health facilities, technology & medical devices expo. Come and say hello and pick up the latest issue of the Australian Hospital & Healthcare Bulletin. [ + ]

A standard global test for child development has delivered an incredible result. The children Australia holds in immigration detention are the most at risk ever given the assessment. Max Chalmers reports. [ + ]

Walking may be possible again for people with spinal cord injuries using the power of thought. Melbourne medical researchers have created a new minimally invasive brain-machine interface, giving people with paralysis new hope. [ + ]

IVF patients across the country are being told their fairy tale ending is just an embryo transfer away from“Joyful new mum Sonia Kruger” to the “back-to-front love story” of sperm donor romance. Loretta Houlahan, from Monash University reveals that for every artificially conceived bundle of joy to make the headlines, there are many everyday Australians who have not been so lucky. [ + ]

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It has just been reported that CSIRO is facing significant job cuts, with climate science teams among those expected to be hit the hardest. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the Oceans and Atmosphere division is expected to lose 110 staff, with similar reductions in the Land and Water division. In an interview with Fairfax media, CSIRO chief executive Larry Marshall explains the rationale behind the cuts – Mr Marshall suggests 350 staff will be affected, and has sent a letter to CSIRO staff this morning. Professor Samantha Hepburn, Research Director at Deakin Law School and Director of EMI Partners says, "The job cuts in the climate science division of CSIRO have been rationalised by the new CEO, former venture capitalist, Mr Marshall, as being the product of a rationalised and streamlined approach to corporate management in line with startup companies such as Netflix." "The CSIRO, however, is a crucial agency for social and environmental progression. It is the Federal government government agency for scientific research in Australia. It seeks to develop the scientific knowledge required to manage Australia's wildlife, plant and land resources for ecological sustainability. It is not a technology startup," she says. [ + ]

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Newborns that are delivered via caesarean-section are being exposed to their mum's vaginal microbes by US scientists in an attempt to provide them with the community of microorganisms that would usually come from a vaginal birth. The researchers explain that the early exposure helps the babies develop a strong immune system, and in the experiment the babies that were swabbed with the vaginal fluid showed a similar level of microorganism growth as those born vaginally. They did add that the transfer was not perfect, as a few of the common microbes didn't take hold, and that long term studies are still required to determine the lasting effects. [ + ]

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