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Systematic review examines why pregnant and lactating women worldwide do – or don’t – participate in clinical trials

The study reveals that fear of harming fetus is a significant barrier to participation, while also highlighting importance of culturally sensitive recruitment strategies. Factors such as lack of trust in research institutions, limited access to healthcare, and social norms also play crucial role in shaping participation rates.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeSystematic review·DateMay 30, 2024

New, modified CRISPR protein can fit inside virus used for gene therapy

Researchers have developed a compact, high-fidelity version of the Cas12a protein, which can be packaged within a non-pathogenic virus for targeted gene editing. The modified protein demonstrates efficient editing activity and has been shown to reduce blood cholesterol levels in mice with high cholesterol.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 30, 2024

Babies babble squeals and growls in clustering patterns observable from birth through the first year, suggesting this active vocal exploration is important to speech development

Researchers analyzed 130 English-learning infants' vocalizations and found significant cluster patterns of squeals and growls, indicating active play and sound practice. These findings suggest that infant vocal category exploration is a fundamental pathway for language development.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateMay 29, 2024

Slugs and snails love the city, unlike other animals

A study using crowd-sourced data from iNaturalist found that slugs and snails are more common in urban areas than other native species. In contrast, butterflies and moths were the least tolerant of urban environments. The analysis provides valuable insights for city planners to increase urban biodiversity.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateMay 29, 2024

Twitter may be overlooking misinformation "superspreaders" - political pundits, low-credibility media outlets, and influencers who use more toxic language than the typical misinformation spreader

Researchers identify superspreaders of low-credibility content on Twitter, including political pundits and low-credibility media outlets that spread toxic language. The study suggests that these individuals and groups are overlooked by Twitter's algorithm despite being more effective at spreading misinformation.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMay 22, 2024

Health and economic benefits of breastfeeding quantified

A new study published in PLOS ONE found that exclusively breastfed infants used fewer healthcare services and incurred lower costs compared to formula-fed infants. This could have avoided £10 million in healthcare costs if all formula-fed infants were exclusively breastfed for the first 6-8 weeks of life.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateMay 22, 2024

San Francisco study explores the growing culture of fentanyl smoking

A new study explores the growing fentanyl smoking culture in San Francisco, highlighting individual experiences and local trends. Participants reported fear of overdose and challenges with injecting as motivations for switching to smoking, but some expressed concerns about hygiene and residue risks.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateMay 22, 2024

Body lice may be bigger plague spreaders than previously thought

A recent laboratory study found that human body lice are more efficient at transmitting Yersinia pestis, the bacterium causing plague, than previously believed. The researchers discovered a new mechanism by which lice can spread the pathogen through bites, highlighting the potential role of body lice in past plague outbreaks.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeObservational study·DateMay 21, 2024

Racial disparities in childhood obesity on the rise

A new study found that rates of obesity and severe obesity increased among Black, Hispanic, and foreign-born students in NYC public schools. Despite overall decline in obesity prevalence, these groups saw significant increases, with Black students experiencing a larger relative increase.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateMay 15, 2024

6-month-old infants who struggle to understand and predict sequences are more likely to have social communication difficulties aged 2-3, highlighting visual statistical learning as a potential predictor of autistic-related traits

Research suggests that preverbal infants who struggle with sequence understanding are more likely to experience social communication difficulties later in childhood. Visual statistical learning is identified as a key predictor of autistic-related traits and behaviors.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMay 15, 2024

Eurasian jays can use “mental time travel” like humans

A study published in PLOS ONE found that Eurasian jays can recall visual characteristics of cups with unique features after a 10-minute delay, demonstrating episodic-like memory. This ability may aid the birds in finding food stores and could be explored further.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateMay 15, 2024

Bluetooth tracking devices provide new look into care home quality

A new study using wearable Bluetooth devices found that staff members dominated social interactions in four UK care homes, with residents having limited social contact. The findings suggest that wearable technology can be used to improve quality of care by reducing isolation and increasing interaction between staff and residents.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateMay 15, 2024

Study tallies heatwave deaths over recent decades

A new study published in PLOS Medicine estimates that more than 150,000 people die annually from heatwaves worldwide, with the highest number of deaths in Asia and Europe. The research also reveals regional disparities in heatwave-related mortality, with areas having dry climates and lower-middle incomes experiencing the highest rates.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateMay 14, 2024

What makes a public health campaign successful?

A new study analyzed 31 previous studies on global health programs to find common themes in public health success. The researchers identified eight key drivers, including efficient data systems, effective leadership, and women's empowerment, that contributed to exceptional outcomes.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Global Public Health·TypeLiterature review·DateMay 9, 2024

The spread of misinformation varies by topic and by country in Europe

A study published in PLOS ONE found that people in Europe primarily consume trustworthy news, but a small percentage rely on questionable sources. The ratio of questionable news to reliable news consumption differs between countries, highlighting the need for context-specific approaches to fighting misinformation.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateMay 8, 2024

Chimps learn and improve tool-using skills even as adults

A study found that adult chimpanzees continue to learn and refine their tool-using skills well into adulthood, suggesting a prolonged learning capacity is key to the evolution of complex tool use in chimps and humans. Chimpanzees developed motor skills for handling sticks by age six, but continued to hone techniques until age 15.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeObservational study·DateMay 7, 2024

These giant, prehistoric salmon had tusk-like teeth

A new study has reconstructed the ancient giant salmon with tusk-like teeth, previously thought to be 'saber-toothed'. The teeth actually pointed sideways out of the fish's mouth, similar to a warthog. This discovery sheds light on the species' possible uses for these massive spikes.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateApr 24, 2024