PeerJ, founded on principles of affordability, innovation, and Open Access, publishes its first 30 peer-reviewed articles, offering a rapid, peer-reviewed journal with a Creative Commons license. The organization assembles an Editorial Board of 800 esteemed academics to ensure rigorous peer review and high standards in publication.
Researchers found that African-American and Caucasian women absorb and metabolize vitamin D at the same rate. Vitamin D deficiency can cause abnormalities in calcium, phosphorus, and bone metabolism, leading to conditions like osteomalacia and muscle weakness.
A recent study found that women with high anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels are 2.5 times more likely to have a successful IVF cycle than those with low levels. High AMH levels also signal increased chances of pregnancy and live birth, regardless of the number of eggs retrieved.
A new study shows that children can influence their parents' attitudes and behaviors towards the environment through education. The research, conducted in the Seychelles, found that children participating in wildlife clubs increased their parents' knowledge of wetlands and led to more environmentally friendly practices.
A new study from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and UC Berkeley uses blue light to activate specific proteins into large clusters, controlling cell signaling. This technique has potential applications in understanding cellular function and optimizing energy production.
Cyclone Gino strengthens with powerful thunderstorms and a ragged eye, but will weaken as it moves into cooler waters. The storm is expected to transition to a cold core low pressure area by February 15.
A new study reveals that cyberstalking victims experience increased self-protective behaviors, including changing jobs or email addresses, and face higher financial costs compared to traditional stalking victims. The study also finds that cyberstalking victims exhibit greater fear over time, suggesting a more severe condition.
Researchers at LSU Health Sciences Center have identified a protein, fatty acid transport protein 4 (FATP4), that protects retinal photoreceptor cells from degeneration. The study suggests FATP4 may be a therapeutic target for inherited retinal degenerative diseases and age-related macular degeneration.
A new study reveals that bite force is influenced by the size of both the eater and the eatee, peaking at an optimal level of muscle stretch. The research found that too much or too little stretch leads to reduced bite force, with some fish able to crush stronger tubes when their muscles are optimally stretched.
Duke researchers develop a brain-machine interface that enables rats to detect and track infrared light, demonstrating the first time a sense has been augmented in adult animals. The breakthrough suggests new possibilities for restoring vision or sensing in people with damaged brains.
The HIPPO dataset provides high-resolution measurements of over 90 unique atmospheric species, including greenhouse gases and aerosols. Key findings include quantified seasonal amounts of carbon dioxide taken up and released by land plants and oceans, as well as elevated concentrations of methane near the Arctic Ocean.
A study reveals racial differences in chronic pain management, with black patients experiencing less frequent pain level documentation and more urine drug tests. This may impact the effectiveness of pain management for black patients who overcome barriers to opioid prescriptions.
This study investigates the sedimentary fingerprint of the 2011 Mississippi River flood across the Louisiana coast, identifying key indicators of sediment provenance. Chemostratigraphy also reveals a complete Late Permian to Early Triassic sequence in western Utah, shedding light on the Permian-Triassic mass extinction event.
Researchers discovered a genetic mutation in CELF6 that disrupts serotonin signaling and leads to common autism behaviors like communication difficulties and resistance to change. The findings provide new insights into the biological pathways underlying autism.
Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz confirmed the original tetrahedral model of water's molecular structure, attributing its unique features to hydrogen bonds between molecules. The findings resolve a controversy that emerged in 2004, which was later attributed to temporary fluctuations in the bond network.
Researchers tracked observer eye movements during video clips of the 'Cups and Balls' trick to illuminate how our brains can be misdirected. This study advances our understanding of human cognition and perception, shedding light on how magicians manipulate attention.
A Norwegian study found that mothers who took folic acid supplements during early pregnancy had a 40% reduced risk of having children with autistic disorder. The timing of the supplements was critical, with the greatest reduction in risk observed when taken between 4 weeks before to 8 weeks after the start of pregnancy.
A University of Colorado Boulder-led study found significant declines in pinyon pine seed cone production due to regional warming and drought. The biggest declines were at higher elevation sites with more dramatic warming, which likely inhibits cone initiation and development.
The European Space Agency has selected NASA's Goddard team to join the Euclid mission, a space telescope designed to probe the mysteries of dark energy and dark matter. The project aims to explore the cosmic infrared background and provide insight into stellar and galactic populations in the early universe.
A 30-year study of nearly 400 men found that nearly one-third of major depressive episodes were seen only while they were drinking heavily. Heavy drinking is often mistaken for depression, but the symptoms typically resolve within weeks to a month of abstinence.
A new world record efficiency of 10.7% has been achieved in thin film silicon solar cells, using less than 2 micrometers of raw material, significantly reducing material costs and energy payback time.
A new longitudinal study found that toddlers whose parents praised their efforts more than they praised them as individuals had a more positive approach to challenges five years later. Process praise was shown to improve children's persistence and performance on challenging tasks.
A new study found that teaching teenagers that people can change reduces aggressive reactions to peer conflicts. The research suggests that believing people's traits are fixed leads teens to respond aggressively, but an intervention that teaches the potential for change can reduce this behavior.
Researchers developed a new analytical method to detect fatigue in wind turbines' parts while the turbine is in operation. This method distinguishes between mechanical properties and interfering noise, enabling precise detection of material fatigue or untightened screws.
A review and meta-analysis found that 3 or more doses of intermittent preventive therapy during pregnancy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine were associated with higher birth weights and lower risk of low birth weight. The researchers also noted that increasing resistance to the drug may require more frequent dosing.
A landmark clinical trial published in Ophthalmology found that genetic variants do not predict treatment response to Lucentis and Avastin for wet AMD. The study's findings clarify the value of genetic testing for this serious eye disease, contradicting previous hopes for personalized medicine.
A study of 61,443 Swedish women found that high calcium intake doubles the risk of cardiovascular death, particularly among those who take supplements. The researchers suggest that diets extremely low or high in calcium can disrupt normal blood levels of calcium.
Researchers have identified specific parent ants and their children in wild colonies, allowing them to study reproduction trends. The study found that only about 25% of colonies reproduce annually, with most relying on just a few successful queens.
A new study by SFU chemist Bingyun Sun and colleagues reveals that the number of sugars (N-Glycans) on membrane proteins correlates with their function in five animal species. The correlation has been conserved through evolution, suggesting a universal mechanism for stabilizing glycoproteins.
NASA released an animation of NOAA satellite imagery showing the lifetime of the historic nor'easter that brought over 2 feet of snow to New England states on Feb. 8-9, 2013. The storm left over 650,000 without power and led to travel bans in several governors' states.
Researchers at Vienna University of Technology discovered a new class of materials that can be used to create highly efficient ultra-thin solar cells. The oxide heterostructures separate electrons and holes using an electric field, increasing efficiency.
A new report from Griffith University shows that most households did not make any changes to reduce their flood vulnerability despite lessons learned from the 2010-11 Australian floods. The research found that residents prioritized general home improvements over resilience measures, and insurers often only paid to replace like-for-like.
A field experiment conducted during the December 2011 parliamentary elections in Russia suggests that fraud had a significant impact on the results. The researchers estimate that fraud accounted for at least 11 percentage points of the vote recorded for the ruling United Russia party in Moscow, resulting in the party retaining its majo...
International researchers argue that mobile health technology needs more evidence to support its widespread use in healthcare. The authors highlight the need for innovative research designs and standardized features to inform the scale-up of mHealth interventions.
A multi-site clinical trial shows that Bright IDEAS problem-solving skills training reduces mothers' levels of anxiety and symptoms of posttraumatic stress after a child's cancer diagnosis. The training also improves overall coping with a child's illness, making things seem manageable for parents.
Researchers found that most tough-leaved shrubs and trees in South East Australia went extinct during the ice ages, contradicting the long-held theory that evolution drives biodiversity. The study suggests that extinction is equally important to diversity as evolution.
A study found that only 63% of US counties have mental health facilities providing outpatient specialty services for youth, highlighting significant gaps in care. The article emphasizes the need for comprehensive strategies to address these disparities and ensure access to quality mental health services for all youth.
A study found a 21% drop in insulin sensitivity among first-born children, leading to higher daytime blood pressure and increased risk of conditions like type 2 diabetes. First-borns tend to be taller and slimmer than their later-born counterparts due to changes in the mother's uterus during pregnancy.
Researchers at the University of Alberta have developed a receptor-free nanomechanical infrared spectroscopy method to detect trace amounts of explosives in complex mixtures. This technique increases selectivity and sensitivity, allowing for the detection of specific molecules even with high concentrations of interfering molecules.
Researchers at Penn State University have developed a method to determine how to focus disease-control strategies based on individuals most likely to spread the infection. By analyzing classroom schedules and human-networking theory, they created a low-cost but effective way to predict disease outbreaks in closed groups.
A recent study published in Biological Psychiatry reveals that scopolamine can rapidly improve mood in depressed patients. Additionally, the drug shows promise as a treatment for anxiety disorders by disrupting contextual processing during extinction learning.
Researchers found that two patients with severe dystonia experienced prolonged symptom relief despite interrupted deep brain stimulation therapy. The study suggests that younger brains and shorter disease duration may be more responsive to treatment.
Young children may go above and beyond when helping adults, overriding specific requests for unhelpful items in favor of something more useful. In one experiment, most 3-year-olds recognized that an adult wasn't making the best decision and decided to be helpful instead.
A team from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine has identified a molecular master switch for pancreatic cancer, which could serve as a potential predictor of treatment outcome. The researchers found that Prrx1 and Sox9 regulate the emergence of an intermediate cell type that can give rise to cancer.
A study by Spanish National Research Council proposes a new methodology to assess air traffic congestion. Researchers found that crew rotation and passenger connections systematically spread flight delays, revealing a domino effect.
Researchers investigated relationship between hospital performance on 30-day mortality rates and 30-day readmission rates, finding no strong association. The study included data from nearly 3 million hospital admissions, covering heart attack, pneumonia, and heart failure conditions.
A new study using NASA's Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites has found that the Middle East region lost 117 million acre feet of freshwater reserves between 2003 and 2012. The majority of this loss, approximately 73 million acre feet, was due to reductions in groundwater.
Researchers at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid have developed a new GPS system that improves position determination by up to 90% in urban settings. The system combines conventional GPS with accelerometers and gyroscopes to reduce margin of error, enabling applications such as cooperative driving and autonomous vehicles.
Research from the 2013 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium highlights new insights on high-risk prostate cancer prevalence and treatment. Studies show that African-American men and older men of any race are more likely to have aggressive prostate cancer, while surveillance for small kidney tumors is a safe alternative to surgery for elderl...
Researchers found that cured Cushing's disease patients who had depression when symptoms started were at elevated risk of mortality and cardiovascular disease. Men were more susceptible than women due to a lack of follow-up care, while patients with diabetes were also at higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
A new study found that differential parenting behavior in one child can lead to increased mental health problems in all family members. Mothers with high cumulative risk factors exhibited more extreme variations in affection and discipline across their children.
A study published in PLOS Medicine found that whole genome sequencing is more effective at tracing TB outbreaks than standard genotyping tests. The new test revealed that first outbreak isolates were falsely clustered by classical genotyping, providing valuable insights into the evolution of M. tuberculosis.
A new study by USC Marshall Professor Valerie Folkes and Ohio State University Professor Shashi Matta investigates how firms can activate gender stereotypes to sell more products. The researchers found that stressing competence and quality can influence consumer behavior in a positive way, rendering the product more appealing.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic discovered an abnormal protein C9RANT that accumulates in the brains of patients with ALS and frontotemporal dementia. The findings provide a potentially new therapeutic target and biomarker to confirm diagnosis of these diseases.
A review of published studies suggests that interactions with therapy dogs can help children with ASD develop emotional attachments and interaction in a social setting, leading to improved interpersonal communication. Larger studies are needed to confirm these findings and build on the current evidence.
Researchers developed an integrated model to capture both product innovation and customer evaluation processes. The conceptual model illustrates the interaction between innovation and customer response, aiming to help companies adapt their innovation processes more efficiently.
Research found that conservative counties had lower market share for generic products and fewer adoption of newly launched products compared to liberal counties. This suggests a link between political ideology and daily buying behavior.
Research highlights the importance of considering sex and gender in medical treatment, leading to better health outcomes. The Sex and Gender Women's Health Collaborative aims to integrate sex and gender influences into medical education and clinical training through its digital resource.
Almost 230,000 people in the UK have been conned by online romance fraudsters since 2007, research suggests that dating companies need to issue clear warnings on their sites to prevent users from falling victim. The study recommends targeting advice at vulnerable individuals with high romantic ideals or previous mental health problems
A study found that genetic testing revealed high-risk mutations in individuals but prompted them to take positive steps, including follow-up visits with a doctor and discussions with family members. The test results also led to a 'cascade effect' where relatives were subsequently tested and discovered they too had the mutation.