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Science News for October 8, 2015


Many colonoscopy patients do not accurately recall important exam details as time lapses

A new study found that patients' recollections of their last colonoscopy are variable, with many unable to recall key details such as the date of their procedure or the presence and number of polyps. The study suggests that doctors can contribute to these issues by not repeating crucial information to patients.

SourceAmerican College of Surgeons·JournalJournal of the American College of Surgeons·DateOct 8, 2015

Opposites don't attract when learning how to use a prosthesis

Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology found that upper limb amputees who learned from fellow amputees using a similar prosthetic device showed significant improvement in motor skills and brain activity. The study suggests that people are better equipped to adapt when learning from someone with similar physical characteristics.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalNeurorehabilitation and Neural Repair·DateOct 8, 2015

Bio-inspired robotic finger looks, feels and works like the real thing

A bio-inspired robotic finger developed by Florida Atlantic University's Erik Engeberg has been shown to mimic human motions and offer advantages over traditional mechanisms. The finger uses shape memory alloy technology and a unique thermal training technique to recover its trained shape, demonstrating rapid flexing and extending motion.

SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournalBioinspiration & Biomimetics·DateOct 8, 2015

Sex change hormonal treatments alter brain chemistry

A new study in Biological Psychiatry finds that hormonal treatments for sex reassignment alter brain chemistry, increasing serotonin levels in female-to-male transsexuals and decreasing them in male-to-female transsexuals. These changes may explain why testosterone improves symptoms in some forms of depression.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateOct 8, 2015

The Lancet: Smoking set to kill 1 in 3 young men in China

A recent study published in The Lancet reveals that two-thirds of young Chinese men start smoking before age 20, with half eventually dying from tobacco-related causes. The study also shows a significant increase in cigarette smoking among young men, leading to a doubling of male deaths attributed to smoking.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet·DateOct 8, 2015

On soft ground? Tread lightly to stay fast...

Researchers developed a test-bed to study animal movement on soft ground, revealing key principles for robotic design. The findings, published in Bioinspiration & Biomechanics, suggest that robots can mimic the locomotion strategies of animals, such as sandrunners and forest dwellers, to improve their performance on challenging terrain.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalBioinspiration & Biomimetics·DateOct 8, 2015

Poor infant sleep may predict problematic toddler behavior

A Tel Aviv University study found that one-year-old infants with poor sleep quality, such as frequent night wakings and broken sleep patterns, are more likely to experience behavioral problems at the toddler stage. The research suggests that early intervention for infant sleep problems may improve later attention and behavior regulation.

SourceAmerican Friends of Tel Aviv University·JournalDevelopmental Neuropsychology·DateOct 8, 2015

A convergence of deadly signals

A team of researchers has mapped the connections between genetic mutations and protein regulation in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) brain cancer. They found that targeting specific transcription factors, such as SOX9 and FOXG1, could potentially treat GBM using BET bromodomain inhibitors.

SourceLudwig Institute for Cancer Research·JournalMolecular Cell·DateOct 8, 2015

Seeing in a new light

Researchers at UCSB have made new discoveries about the signaling cascade necessary for phototransduction, allowing animals to detect light. The study reveals that XPORT-A and XPORT-B molecular chaperone proteins are critical for moving TRP channels to the cell surface.

FIGO calls for treatment developed at Wayne State to fight worldwide preterm birth

The World Congress of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics has adopted recommendations from the Perinatology Research Branch at Wayne State University to prevent preterm birth. These guidelines include daily vaginal progesterone treatment for women with short cervices, which can reduce the risk by nearly half.

NIST, UC Davis scientists float new approach to creating computer memory

Researchers from NIST and UC Davis have successfully created stable magnetic skyrmions under ambient conditions, opening up possibilities for novel data storage and nanoelectronic devices. The breakthrough enables the use of skyrmions in information memory systems with improved elasticity and resistance to external influences.

Popular crime shows may help reduce sexual assault

A new study reveals that viewers of 'Law and Order' have a better grasp of sexual consent than those who watch other crime dramas, suggesting a link between punishment of sexual predators and reduced predatory behavior. The study explores the influence of watching crime drama franchises on attitudes towards sexual consent.

SourceWashington State University·JournalJournal of Health Communication·DateOct 8, 2015

The father effect

Scientists at McGill University have discovered that histones, previously underappreciated molecules, play a crucial role in transmitting environmental memories over several generations. This finding has the potential to profoundly change our understanding of inheritance and could lead to new avenues for disease prevention and treatment.

SourceMcGill University·JournalScience·DateOct 8, 2015

Breakthrough for electrode implants in the brain

Researchers at Lund University have developed implantable electrodes that capture signals from single neurons without causing brain tissue damage. The electrodes, called 3-D electrodes, are extremely soft and flexible, enabling stable recordings over long periods.

SourceLund University·JournalFrontiers in Neuroscience·DateOct 8, 2015

Caution: Shrinks when warm

A team of physicists has identified a material with negative thermal expansion, shrinking in size as it warms. The discovery challenges current theoretical understanding of thermal expansion and may lead to the development of more durable electronics.

SourceUniversity of Connecticut·JournalPhysical Review B·DateOct 8, 2015

A long look back at fishes' extendable jaws

A team of researchers discovered that fishes' jaw protrusion ability is a relatively new trait, appearing only in the last 100 million years of their 400-million-year history. This finding suggests that the evolution of jaw protrusion played a crucial role in the success of spiny-rayed fishes.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateOct 8, 2015

Risks and benefits of hysterectomy with electric power morcellation vary with age

A new study found that laparoscopic hysterectomy without morcellation was the most effective procedure, while laparoscopic hysterectomy with power morcellation was associated with more intraoperative complications but fewer perioperative risks. The risk of cancer dissemination and mortality varied by age, with higher risks for older wo...

SourceOxford University Press USA·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateOct 8, 2015

Ancient genome from Africa sequenced for the first time

The sequenced ancient human genome from Africa reveals a significant wave of migration back into the continent around 3,000 years ago, affecting all populations across the African continent. This migration predates the 'Eurasian backflow' event and shares genetic similarities with Early Neolithic farmers who brought agriculture to Europe.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalScience·DateOct 8, 2015

Researchers learn how to grow old brain cells

Researchers have developed a new technique to create brain cells directly from skin samples, retaining age-related signatures. This breakthrough enables scientists to study the effects of aging on the brain without relying on animal models or stem cell reprogramming.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateOct 8, 2015