Science X Newsletter Friday, Mar 9

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for March 9, 2018:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Entangled LED first to operate in the telecom window

Scaling silicon quantum photonic technology

Flat gallium joins roster of new 2-D materials

Prosthetic limbs represented like hands in brain

Researchers develop a new class of two-dimensional materials

Liver study offers insights into hard-to-treat diseases

Two better than one: Chemists advance sustainable battery technology

Don't blink now: Robot does speed cube puzzle solution in 0.38 seconds

Study shows electrically charging planes have reduced risk of being struck by lightning

New ultrafast measurement technique shows how lasers start from chaos

New star described in a model combining relativity and quantum mechanics

Supply bottleneck impairs nerve function

Simulation and experiment help researchers study next-generation semiconductors

Nanostructures made of previously impossible material

A highly sensitive and multi-analytical system for hereditary kidney disease

Astronomy & Space news

	New star described in a model combining relativity and quantum mechanics A new kind of star is reported in a study by SISSA postdoctoral researcher Raúl Carballo-Rubio. In a paper recently published in Physical Review Letters, Carballo-Rubio describes a novel mathematical model combining general relativity with the repulsive effect of quantum vacuum polarization. The result is a description of an ultra-compact configuration of stars that scientists previously believed did not exist in equilibrium.
	Could shallow biospheres exist beneath the icy ceilings of ocean moons? Alien life could potentially exist on the undersides of the icy shells of Jupiter's moon Europa and other frozen worlds thanks to the intersection of chemical energy rising up from hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor and oxidants diffusing down from the surface.
	Imaging a galaxy's molecular outflow A merger between galaxies can trigger can intense radiation from bursts star formation and from the accretion of gas onto the two supermassive black holes at their centers. Astronomers have observed a strong statistical correlation between the masses of these black holes and other properties of the galaxies like their velocity structure or luminosity, and have concluded that there must be a connection.
	Three NASA satellites recreate solar eruption in 3-D The more solar observatories, the merrier: Scientists have developed new models to see how shocks associated with coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, propagate from the Sun—an effort made possible only by combining data from three NASA satellites to produce a much more robust mapping of a CME than any one could do alone.
	Webb Telescope to make a splash in search for interstellar water Water is crucial for life, but how do you make water? Cooking up some H2O takes more than mixing hydrogen and oxygen. It requires the special conditions found deep within frigid molecular clouds, where dust shields against destructive ultraviolet light and aids chemical reactions. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope will peer into these cosmic reservoirs to gain new insights into the origin and evolution of water and other key building blocks for habitable planets.
	Video: Tour a Mars robot test lab NASA's InSight lander looks a bit like an oversized crane game: when it lands on Mars this November, its robotic arm will be used to grasp and move objects on another planet for the first time.
	BepiColombo gets green light for launch site The mission passed a major review yesterday, meaning that the three BepiColombo spacecraft, along with ground equipment and mission experts, are confirmed to start the move from ESA's centre in the Netherlands to Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana at the end of next month. The launch window is open from 5 October until 29 November.

Technology news

	Don't blink now: Robot does speed cube puzzle solution in 0.38 seconds A robot (home-made, mind you) can solve the cube in 0.38 seconds. That represents the time "from the moment the keypress is registered on the computer, to when the last face is flipped," said Ben Katz in his blog about the feat. He collaborated with Jared Di Carlo to create the robot.
	Study shows electrically charging planes have reduced risk of being struck by lightning Aviation experts estimate that every commercial airplane in the world is struck by lightning at least once per year. Around 90 percent of these strikes are likely triggered by the aircraft itself: In thunderstorm environments, a plane's electrically conductive exterior can act as a lightning rod, sparking a strike that could potentially damage the plane's outer structures and compromise its onboard electronics.
	New technique for creating lightweight materials that are stiffer and stronger than previously possible Advances in materials engineering have led to the development of lightweight structures that are both strong and stiff, which are transforming aerospace, automotive and medical industries. Conventional manufacturing techniques like casting and machining, however, limit the designs that can be fabricated as they are prone to inaccuracies and struggle to achieve the best results.
A wireless patch for monitoring emergency-room patients A small, wireless patch developed by EPFL spin-off Smartcardia can measure emergency-room patients' vital signs with the same reliability as existing systems involving cumbersome cables. After extensive testing at several hospitals, the device recently obtained the European Union's CE marking for medical devices and will be launched on the market in the coming days.
	New blood pressure app and hardware rivals arm cuff accuracy Cuff devices for blood pressure measurement are inconvenient, and mobile device apps for blood pressure measurement that are now being introduced may lack accuracy.
	To stop fake news, researchers call for internet platforms to choose quality over quantity "Fake news" has made headlines and dominated social media chatter since the 2016 presidential election. It appears to be everywhere, and researchers are still determining the scale of the problem, said David Lazer, Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Computer and Information Sciences at Northeastern.
	Facebook to stream 25 MLB games in exclusive deal Facebook is getting deeper into the professional sports streaming game, partnering with Major League Baseball to air 25 weekday afternoon games in an exclusive deal.
	Google's autonomous vehicle unit to test semis in Atlanta Just days after ride-hailing service Uber announced it was testing tractor-trailers that drive themselves, Google's autonomous vehicle operation announced similar testing in Georgia.
	Facebook moves ahead on music with last major label deal Facebook on Friday announced a licensing deal with Warner Music, the last of the major label groups to sign with the social media behemoth which is promising more personalized music.
	How the Samsung Galaxy S9 stacks up to iPhone X, 8, Pixel Next week, the iPhone X has a new competitor.
Jack Dorsey pledges Twitter will improve blue check mark verification system A better version of the verification system is coming soon to Twitter, according to CEO Jack Dorsey.
Bill addresses Facebook, Google 'duopoly' over online ad revenue The news industry, which has been pushing for the right to bargain collectively against tech giants that are eating up ad revenue, is cheering a new bill introduced this week.
Ex-Tennessee governor's Senate campaign fears it was hacked Former Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen's campaign for U.S. Senate told the FBI on Thursday that it fears it has been hacked, amid growing concern that candidates in the 2018 election could be targets of cyberattacks.
	Watchdog: Western tech used for hacking in Turkey, Syria A Canadian company's hardware is being used to hack internet users along Turkey's border with Syria, researchers said Friday, adding that there were signs that Kurdish forces aligned with the United States might have been targeted.
	Judge to Trump: Muting, not blocking followers, may end suit A judge recommended Thursday that President Donald Trump mute rather than block some of his critics from following him on Twitter to resolve a First Amendment lawsuit.
	Chinese drones slink into North Korean arsenal Wang Dewen's daughter-in-law says the Chinese businessman could be dead. His wife claims he is travelling. But they are sure of one thing: he is definitely not working in North Korea.
	NHL takes esports on ice with gaming tournament The National Hockey League is making its first foray into the world of esports.
Report says radioactive monitors failed at nuclear plant A new report says mistakes and mismanagement are to blame for the exposure of workers to radioactive particles at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Washington state.
California bullet train costs soar to $77B; opening delayed The projected cost of California's bullet train between San Francisco and Los Angeles has jumped to $77 billion and the opening date has been pushed back four years to 2033, according to a business plan released Friday.

Medicine & Health news

	Prosthetic limbs represented like hands in brain The human brain can take advantage of brain resources originally devoted to the hand to represent a prosthetic limb, a new UCL-led study concludes.
	Liver study offers insights into hard-to-treat diseases A key cell process that could cause damage to bile ducts and help explain some liver diseases has been identified by scientists.
	Supply bottleneck impairs nerve function Impaired transport processes in neurons contribute to diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (AML). Würzburg scientists have now identified key actors in these processes.
	Blood samples can reveal chewable tobacco use People who use moist snuff snus have significantly higher levels of the protein cornulin in their blood than non-snusers. This previously unknown relationship was found in a new study from Umeå University, Sweden. Whether higher levels increase the risk of disease has, however, not yet been clarified.
	Trauma and dementia patients given hope by 'flashbulb memory' breakthrough University of Sussex scientists have made a telling breakthrough in detailing the formation of 'flashbulb memories', which can help a snail find a sugary treat but also mean a war survivor repeatedly relives their trauma.
	Toxic proteins and type 2 diabetes Nearly a half-billion people worldwide live with type 2 diabetes. Yet despite the disease's sizeable and increasing impact, its precise causes remain murky. Current scientific thinking points to two key processes: insulin resistance, wherein cells develop ways of tuning out insulin's signals, and the breakdown of beta cells, the specialized cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. The molecular bases for these activities, however, are largely unknown.
	Study suggests some CpGs in the genome can be hemimethylated by design A pair of researchers at Emory University has found that some CpGs in the genome can be hemimethylated by design, rather than by chance. In their paper published in the journal Science, Chenhuan Xu and Victor Corces describe their study of DNA methylation and the fate of hemimethylated DNA in daughter strands after replication. Jafar Sharif and Haruhiko Koseki with the Developmental Genetics Group, Center for Integrative Medical Sciences in Japan offer a Perspective piece on the work done by the team in the same journal issue.
	Animal study reveals a skin itch receptor contributes to airway constriction Working with mice, Johns Hopkins researchers report they have found previously known skin itch receptors in the airways that appear to contribute to bronchoconstriction and airway hypersensitivity, hallmarks of asthma and other respiratory disorders. The investigators' experiments in mice suggest that the receptors' activation directly aggravates airway constriction and—if the same process is active in people—may be a promising new target for the development of drug therapies.
	3-D mapping babies' brains During the third trimester, a baby's brain undergoes rapid development in utero. The cerebral cortex dramatically expands its surface area and begins to fold. Previous work suggests that this quick and very vital growth is an individualized process, with details varying infant to infant.
	Antigen study supports new approach to vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus Medical researchers have been trying to develop a vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for more than 50 years, without success. New findings by researchers at UC Santa Cruz, however, point to a promising route for designing an effective vaccine.
Physician education and guidelines lead to drop in opioids prescribed after hand surgery An educational session on opioid abuse and new prescription guidelines led to a 45 percent decrease in opioids prescribed after hand surgery, according to a study at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS). The educational session was mandatory for all HSS staff involved in prescribing controlled substances. The hospital also conducted extensive research to develop guidelines for opioid prescription.
Survivors of childhood cancer are at great risk of heart problems in adulthood Survivors of childhood cancer are at increased risk of suffering prematurely from cardiovascular disease in adulthood, according to a study published today (Friday) in the European Heart Journal.
Poor rural population had best diet and health in mid-Victorian years Poor, rural societies retaining a more traditional lifestyle where high-quality foods were obtained locally enjoyed the best diet and health in mid-Victorian Britain. A new study, published in JRSM Open, examined the impact of regional diets on the health of the poor during mid-19th century Britain and compared it with mortality data over the same period.
	Thirdhand smoke found to increase lung cancer risk in mice Researchers at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) identified thirdhand smoke, the toxic residues that linger on indoor surfaces and in dust long after a cigarette has been extinguished, as a health hazard nearly 10 years ago. Now a new study has found that it also increases lung cancer risk in mice.
	The flu vaccine: A high-stakes gamble It is a high-stakes gamble with thousands of human lives on the line.
	Flu virus: Wily 'shapeshifter' always one step ahead On a March morning 100 years ago, a soldier in Kansas reported to the infirmary with a fever, muscle aches, and a sore throat.
	Survival benefit seen for some patients when cardiologists are away at academic conferences Heart attacks don't happen on a schedule. So how do patients fare if they suffer a heart attack while many cardiologists are away at academic meetings or research conferences?
	Timely tips for sick-free travel (HealthDay)—If traveling is in your near future, there are a number of things you can do to keep from getting sick and spoiling your trip.
	Young men face higher risk for rare flu complication (HealthDay)—Young men recovering from the flu should be aware of a side effect that causes nerve damage, a health expert warns.
	Current tobacco smoke exposure doesn't obstruct peds airflow (HealthDay)—Current tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) is not associated with airflow obstruction among school-aged children, while prenatal smoking is associated with airflow obstruction in children with asthma, according to a study published in the March issue of Chest.
	Pharmacists play key roles in cardiac disease management (HealthDay)—For patients with cardiac disease, pharmacists in all practice settings have an important role in the management of the chronic disease state, according to a report published in Drug Topics.
	Serotonin promotes perseverance, researchers find How do increased serotonin levels affect behavior? This is a question that highly interests neuroscientists. Serotonin has multiple functions in the brain, and its effects are not completely understood. Serotonin is at the root of a whole class of antidepressant drugs, the most well-known of which is Prozac, that seem to work by increasing serotonin levels in the human brain.
	How the brain might compensate for stress during learning When people have to assess a situation within seconds, it helps to draw on learned categories. Psychologists from the Ruhr-Universität Bochum used electroencephalography (EEG) to study how well such category learning works during a stressful episode. They published their research on a mechanism, the brain may compensate stress with, in the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience.
	Cultural barriers to tackling the superbug crisis Research led by the University of Oxford has revealed how the complex cultural and social environment in developing countries can complicate the use of new diagnostic technologies to fight the global superbug crisis.
	Inherited mutation leads to overproduction of EPO A newly discovered hereditary mutation is responsible for an increased production of erythropoietin (EPO) in the blood. This mutation causes a messenger RNA (mRNA) that is not normally involved in the formation of proteins to be reprogrammed so that it produces EPO, thus abnormally increasing the number of red blood cells. Researchers from the Department of Biomedicine at the University of Basel and University Hospital Basel reported these findings in The New England Journal of Medicine.
Women regret sex less when they take the initiative In general, women regret short-term sexual encounters like one-night stands more than men do. But various factors determine whether and how much they regret them. "The factor that clearly distinguishes women from men is the extent to which they themselves take the initiative," says Mons Bendixen, an associate professor in the Department of Psychology at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).
	More definitive food profiles If you want to know the nutrient content of a specific food or beverage – how much vitamin D there is in a glass of milk, for instance – you would do well to consult W. Craig Byrdwell.
	With new model, scientists closer to finding sepsis treatment Sepsis, or blood poisoning, occurs when the body's response to infection damages its own tissues and organs, leading to organ failure. It kills millions each year worldwide, and is the most common cause of death in people who have been hospitalized. Despite its prevalence, the standard treatment is to give patients antibiotics and fluids, and no new therapies have been developed in the last 30 years due to the high failure rate of sepsis treatments in clinical trials.
	Women and men should receive similar treatment decisions for heart disease, study argues Women have conventionally been considered a risk factor for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), a type of open-heart surgery that improves blood flow to the heart. But a research paper by an international team of researchers, including two cardiologists at the University of California, Riverside, argues that sex should not influence treatment decisions about CABG.
Excessive use of menthol cough drops could actually increase coughs It started with a Green Bay doctor's observation: his patients generally didn't mention cough-drop use when he asked about over-the-counter remedies they used.
	Let's talk about Rx use—what is an opioid? There are many reasons someone may take a prescription medication. We know these prescriptions are only safe when taken as directed by a medical professional for a specific health purpose, but for those who still choose to use outside of these conditions, there are some things to be aware of.
	Fluoroquinolones linked to increased risk of aortic disease New research from a Swedish and Danish team of researchers led from Karolinska Institutet lend additional support to a link between treatment with fluoroquinolone antibiotics and an increased risk of acute aortic disease. The study is published in the esteemed journal the BMJ.
	Weight plays a role in menopause age Being underweight or overweight could affect the age at which women experience menopause, a University of Queensland study has found.
	Self-esteem affects the benefits of writing about bias We don't have to spend two years at Walden Pond to appreciate the benefits of expressive autobiographical writing. Thinking about Thoreau's classic and the insights he shared, however, speaks to what research has shown to be the benefits of this type of writing, even when the writing is a completely private exercise, not meant for an audience.
	Golf-grip study may reduce pain, improve play for those with arthritis Groundbreaking work by Western researchers may soon help golfers with arthritis get a better grip on playing with less pain and more control.
	Gut microbes influence severity of intestinal parasitic infections A new study indicates that the kinds of microbes living in the gut influence the severity and recurrence of parasitic worm infections in developing countries. The findings, by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, suggest that manipulating the gut's microbial communities may protect against intestinal parasites, which affect more than 1 billion people worldwide.
Stress eating can start in early childhood, may lead to extra weight later The link between emotions and eating has been well established but new research from the University of Michigan shows that children as young as 4 who experience stress eat more in the absence of hunger, beginning a cycle that could possibly mean extra pounds down the road.
Study of smoking among doctors and nurses shows very low smoking prevalence and Smokefree 2025 goal can be achieved A new study on smoking trends among doctors and nurses in New Zealand finds smoking has declined steadily within these healthcare professions. Researchers say this shows that very low smoking rates can be achieved in large occupational groups, suggesting that New Zealand's Smokefree 2025 goal is reachable.
	A retinal implant that is more effective against blindness EPFL researchers have developed a new type of retinal implant for people who have become blind due to the loss of photoreceptor cells in their retinas. The implant partially restores their visual field and can significantly improve their quality of life.
	Binge watching TV could increase bowel cancer risk in men Sitting down to binge watch more than four hours of TV over a day could increase the risk of bowel cancer in men compared to those watching less than just an hour of TV, according to a paper published in the British Journal of Cancer .
	Bacteria-hunting virus fished from Connecticut lake treats infected doctor An anti-bacterial virus found in a Connecticut lake successfully treated an 80-year-old doctor with a life-threatening antibiotic-resistant infection in his heart, a Yale team of scientists and doctors reported March 8 in the journal Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health.
	Low levels of vitamin B12 may worsen walking, cognition in Parkinson's patients A study of patients with early Parkinson's disease found that groups with lower levels of vitamin B12 faced on average a more rapid acceleration of both motor and cognitive symptoms, which slowed in some cases after taking a daily multivitamin.
High-dose steroids don't prevent asthma flare-ups High-doses of glucocorticoids are not effective in preventing life-threatening asthma exacerbations, according to a landmark study published in The New England Journal of Medicine this week.
Pulmonary vessels show most age-related damage New research suggests that certain areas of the lungs are more likely than others to show age-related damage that compromises respiratory function. The paper is published ahead of print in the American Journal of Physiology—Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology.
	Nerve agents—what are they and how do they work? The former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter are in a critical condition in a hospital in Salisbury, UK, following exposure to an unknown nerve agent. Several locations in the city have been cordoned off and decontaminated since the pair were found unconscious on a park bench on March 5. But what are nerve agents exactly and how do they affect the body?
	Exercise can slow the aging process – a professor explains how The tradition of sending a telegram to every British citizen on their 100th birthday was started just over 100 years ago by George V, who sent out just nine letters. Last year, the Queen had to sign over 16,000 birthday letters. The UK has an ageing society, with falling birth rates and increasing life expectancy. Improvements in public health and medicine have helped to achieve this amazing effect on lifespan.
	Can liquid biopsies compete with scopes and scans in cancer diagnosis? March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, the perfect time to bring up the value of colonoscopies and mammograms. These procedures may seem old school for old folks, but they save lives – more directly than genetic testing. Scopes and scans saved mine and my husband's lives.
	What happened to Asperger's syndrome? I often get asked "Does my child have Asperger's?" in my clinical work. Or, "Do I have Asperger's?"
	Are newborns ugly? Research says newborns rated 'less cute' than older babies Parents who aren't feeling that magical bond with their newborn babies need not panic.
	Deadliest type of stroke seeing surge of new research Patricia Nelson was leaving a restaurant after dinner last June with friends when she started hearing wind blowing in her ear before she'd even stepped outside. "I just didn't feel right," says Nelson, a stroke rehabilitation nurse.
New method increases life span of donated brain tissue Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have developed a method that enables them to use donated brain tissue from people with epilepsy for 48 hours. Previously, the researchers only had 12 hours to test new treatments before the structure of the cells started to break down. The research has now been published in the journal Scientific Reports.
Fast-acting antidote in sight for cholera epidemics Groundbreaking discoveries regarding the onset of cholera are paving the way for a future, fast-acting antidote for cholera epidemics, according to research published in the journals PLOS Pathogens and ACS Infectious Disease.
	How knowledge about different cultures is shaking the foundations of psychology The academic discipline of psychology was developed largely in North America and Europe. Some would argue it's been remarkably successful in understanding what drives human behaviour and mental processes, which have long been thought to be universal. But in recent decades some researchers have started questioning this approach, arguing that many psychological phenomena are shaped by the culture we live in.
	Brain connections in schizophrenia Executive cognitive functions—abilities that include working memory and underlie mental control and self-regulation—are impaired in schizophrenia. Current pharmacological and behavioral interventions have only modest pro-cognitive effects.
	Can't sleep? Could be down to genetics Researchers have identified specific genes that may trigger the development of sleep problems, and have also demonstrated a genetic link between insomnia and psychiatric disorders such as depression, or physical conditions such as type 2 diabetes. The study in the journal Molecular Psychiatry was led by Murray Stein of the University of California San Diego and the VA San Diego Healthcare System.
	Older adults with small social networks less likely to get cataract surgery Close family relationships and a strong social network may help older adults see the world better—literally.
	Academic study finds women wearing heavy makeup less likely to be perceived as leaders Women wearing heavy makeup are less likely to be thought of as good leaders, new research from Abertay University has found.
Emotional support is key for stroke patients, research suggests Doctors caring for severe stroke patients need to take account of their psychological needs and help prepare families for the possibility that they may not recover, a study suggests.
	Most patients comfortable with sexual orientation and gender identity questions New Mayo Clinic research suggests up to 97 percent of patients are comfortable with their health care provider asking sexual orientation and gender identity questions. Before this research, it was unclear if the questions - which researchers say are important to reduce health disparities among LGBTI patients - would offend patients. The findings were published today in Health Services Research.
	Mandatory flu vaccines for health care workers improve rates, reduce absenteeism Mandatory flu vaccines for health care workers improve participation by as much as 30 percent and reduce absenteeism during critical periods of patient surges by about 6 percent, findings from a multi-institutional study show.
Intravenous arginine benefits children after acute metabolic strokes Children with mitochondrial diseases who suffered acute metabolic strokes benefited from rapid intravenous treatment with the amino acid arginine, experiencing no side effects from the treatment. The diseases were caused by a range of different genetic disorders. In half of the stroke episodes, patients showed clinical improvements in symptoms such as seizures and partial paralysis.
Burn specialists report a dramatic increase in burn injury survival over the past 30 years For many years, people who sustained severe burn injuries often died. But great strides in burn care over the last 30 years have dramatically increased their chances of survival, according to new study findings published as an "article in press" on the Journal of the American College of Surgeons website ahead of print publication.
	Majority of mining-related injuries and illness in Illinois go unreported Illnesses and injuries associated with working in Illinois mines are substantially underreported to the federal agency tasked with tracking these events, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine.
	Some great ways to fight childhood obesity (HealthDay)—Childhood obesity is a problem that often follows kids into adulthood, exposing them to serious health threats later in life.
	Backrest elevation has no effect on sacral tissue integrity (HealthDay)—Level of backrest elevation is not associated with changes in tissue integrity among critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilation, according to research published online March 1 in the American Journal of Critical Care.
	Text message-based intervention helps with sobriety maintenance (HealthDay)—Mobile alcohol interventions may help liver transplant candidates with alcoholic liver disease (ALD) maintain sobriety, according to a study published online March 2 in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.
	Patients with CKD face high symptom burden at end of life (HealthDay)—Patients with advanced kidney disease face a substantial symptom burden in the last 12 months of life, according to a small study published online Feb. 28 in the Journal of Renal Care.
	Plantar-lateral plating beneficial in simulated jones fracture (HealthDay)—Compared with intramedullary screw fixation, plantar-lateral plating allows for greater cycles to failure and peak load before failure when applied to cadaver foot specimens with simulated Jones fracture, according to a study published online Feb. 21 in the American Journal of Sports Medicine.
	Frontal fibrosing alopecia negatively linked to HRQOL (HealthDay)—Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is negatively linked to health-related quality of life (HRQOL), according to a research letter published online March 7 in JAMA Dermatology.
	Circulating FGF23 linked to incident coronary heart disease (HealthDay)—Higher circulating fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) concentrations are associated with an increased risk of incident coronary heart disease (CHD), according to a study published online March 7 in JAMA Cardiology.
	Botulinum toxin injections improve facial surgical scars (HealthDay)—Botulinum toxin injections in surgical wound closure immediately after surgery improve facial surgery scars, according to a small study published in the March issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Blood donors' leftover immune cells reveal secrets of antibody affinity During some kinds of blood donations, you get most of your blood back. For example, platelet donation involves a procedure in which donor blood is filtered to harvest the platelets for medical use and the rest of the blood components are returned to the donor's body. The byproducts of this procedure - a fraction of immune cells - are typically discarded.
	Insurers get into care, but is it good for your health? In the not-too-distant future, your health insurance, your prescription drugs and some of your treatment may come from the same company.
Spanish flu: more deadly than World War I The Spanish flu outbreak 100 years ago is the modern world's deadliest epidemic, its toll of more than 50 million surpassing that of World War I.
New study finds less research being published by female radiologists A new study has found that although radiology research by women has increased significantly over the past five decades, the rate of this increase has leveled off since 2000.
	ZMapp antibody delivered by viral vector protects against Ebola infection A new study comparing the effectiveness of individual ZMapp antibodies versus a cocktail of antibodies, administered to mice using recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) delivery vectors, showed the ability to achieve 100% protection against infection by Ebola virus. The study, which reported the best results using a single rAAV-delivered antibody, is published in Human Gene Therapy.
Study finds mandatory flu vaccines for healthcare workers reduce absenteeism A multi-institutional study, as reported in the journal Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, shows that mandatory flu vaccines for healthcare workers improve vaccination rates by as much as 30 percent and reduce absenteeism during critical periods by about six percent. Further, vaccinated healthcare workers had a 30 percent reduction in absenteeism compared to non-vaccinated healthcare workers overall. Children's Hospital Colorado (Children's Colorado) was one of the hospitals that mandated the flu vaccine during the trial.
Telemonitoring in cardiac disorders: Benefit still unclear To prevent cardiac death, people with certain cardiac disorders are implanted with electronic devices designed to automatically stimulate the heartbeat or counteract serious arrhythmia if necessary. Nowadays these devices also permit to monitor heart function from a distance. In case of conspicuous recordings, the physician may take additional therapeutic measures.
Thousands of eggs, embryos possibly damaged at Ohio hospital Officials say more than 2,000 frozen eggs and embryos may have been damaged due to a refrigerator malfunction at an Ohio fertility clinic.
	NIH experts call for transformative research approach to end tuberculosis A more intensive biomedical research approach is necessary to control and ultimately eliminate tuberculosis (TB), according to a perspective published in the March 2018 issue of The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. In the article, authors Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, and Robert W. Eisinger, Ph.D., special assistant for scientific projects at NIAID, discuss the need to modernize TB research by applying new diagnostic, therapeutic, and vaccine approaches. The perspective is based on a lecture delivered by Dr. Fauci on Nov. 17, 2017 in Moscow at the first World Health Organization Global Ministerial Conference, "Ending TB in the Sustainable Development Era: A Multisectoral Response."
Dupilumab for neurodermatitis: Indication of an added benefit in adults Dupilumab (trade name: Dupixent) has been approved since September 2017 for the treatment of adult patients with moderate to severe neurodermatitis (atopic dermatitis) who are candidates for systemic treatment. Typical symptoms of this chronic, non-contagious skin disease include rash and severe itching, which occur in flare-ups and might entail massive impairment of the quality of life.
Crowded shelters and the vicious flu brew perfect storm for the homeless The flu descended on Connie Gabaldon like a fog, she recalled, clouding her mind and compromising her judgment. It progressed to chest and back pain, the aches perhaps made worse by a fall the 66-year-old had while riding the bus in Santa Fe, N.M.
Tips to avoid traveler's diarrhea Millions of people traveling internationally experience traveler's diarrhea every year. And, during spring break, that number is especially high for Americans, who may have symptoms ranging from mild to severe, as they travel to countries with warmer climates. But there are some steps you can take to ensure that your trip isn't interrupted by unpleasant bathroom breaks.
	Researchers launch combination drug trial to eradicate B-cell malignancies Fueled by a multimillion dollar grant from the state's stem cell agency, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine, in collaboration with local biotechnology company Oncternal Therapeutics, have launched a phase Ib/II clinical trial to evaluate the combined effectiveness of a standard of care drug with a novel monoclonal antibody that target B-cell malignancies, which include leukemias and lymphomas.

Biology news

	Research reveals genetic timeline of early Pacific settlers Researchers from The Australian National University (ANU) have helped put together the most comprehensive study ever conducted into the origins of people in Vanuatu—regarded as a geographic gateway from Asia to the Remote Pacific.
	How beneficial gut bacteria optimise host colonisation and biofilm formation Scientists on the Norwich Research Park have discovered a key mechanism by which gut bacteria colonise and adhere to their specific hosts.
	Newfound clock in blood brain barrier of fruit flies regulates daily permeability The blood brain barrier (BBB), like a bouncer outside an exclusive night club, stands guard between the brain and the rest of the body. The barrier consists of tight junctions between cells lining blood vessels to keep harmful toxins and germs out of the brain. But this can also bar entry to many medications used to treat brain illnesses.
	Study predicts wildlife of Africa's Albertine Rift will be threatened by climate change A new study by scientists from WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) and other groups predicts that the effects of climate change will severely impact the Albertine Rift, one of Africa's most biodiverse regions and a place not normally associated with global warming.
California salmon will have places to chill with dam removal A $100 million project removing dams and helping fish route around others is returning a badly endangered salmon to spring-fed waters in northernmost California, giving cold-loving native fish a life-saving place to chill as scientists say climate change, drought and human diversions warm the waters.
	Smuggled tiger undergoes emergency surgery in California A Bengal tiger cub that was being smuggled into California from Mexico has undergone emergency surgery to fix internal problems he probably had before being rescued.
	The science of preserving Henry VIII's 1200+ cannonballs In a ground-breaking partnership between The Mary Rose, UCL and Diamond Light Source, the Mary Rose's Head of Conservation, Dr. Eleanor Schofield and her colleagues are working at the cutting edge of conservation science to protect and preserve the huge haul of cannonballs found on Henry VIII's flagship. But in a contradictory twist, the only way to uncover how to preserve them is to sacrifice some of them.
	From foe to friend—how carnivores could help farmers Across the globe, the numbers of carnivore species such as leopards, dingoes, and spectacled bears are rapidly declining. The areas they occupy are also getting smaller each year. This is a problem, because carnivores are incredibly important to ecosystems as they may provide services such as biodiversity enhancement, disease regulation, and improving carbon storage. And that, in turn, is important to human wellbeing.
	Birdsong loss would echo silence in the forests South-East Queensland is in danger of losing one of the last remaining populations of the Eastern bristlebird, one of Australia's most melodic songbirds, a study has shown.
	Eyelash-sized plants reveal climate change—and citizen scientists help identify them A botanist, a retired businesswoman, and a high school student walk into a bar. Or, maybe not a bar, what with the high school student. A museum. They and their team have a common problem—too many plant photos to analyze—and they find a solution: creating an online tool that lets regular, non-scientist people help do that analysis.
Understanding the evolution of parasitic worms by studying their spermatozoa Do you know about "comparative spermatology?" It's the science of describing spermatozoa. A first international congress was devoted to it in 1970. In 1976, more than 1,000 animal species had their spermatozoa described by electron microscopy; and today it's probably closer to 10,000.
	A compass in the dark A research team headed by scientists of Helmholtz Zentrum München and the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has published a new model in Nature Communications which allows studying magnetoreception. Analyzing zebrafish and medaka fish allowed the researchers to measure brain activity during magnetic stimulation and to show that the sense also works in darkness.
	Meal times may be key to managing malaria Malaria infections might be brought under control by managing the eating habits of infected people or animals, according to a new study.
	John Sulston, who decoded the human genome, dies at 75 John Sulston, a Nobel Prize-winning British scientist who helped decode the human genome, has died. He was 75.

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