A new study published in PLOS Medicine suggests that combining self-imposed prevention measures like handwashing and mask-wearing with government-imposed social distancing can delay and reduce the peak of a COVID-19 epidemic. The model found that if self-imposed measures exceed 50% efficacy, large epidemics can be prevented.
A novel mouse model shows that contained and persistent yet non-pathogenic Mtb infection reduces tuberculosis disease burden after re-exposure. The study highlights the importance of innate immune responses in protecting against the disease.
An international team has developed five principles to measure and reward research integrity, aiming to enhance scientific integrity and amplify its benefits. The Hong Kong Principles value responsible practices, accurate reporting, open science, diverse research scholarship, and various contributions to scholarly activity.
A study found that urban community gardens can be a rich habitat for diverse pollinators, with higher pollination rates compared to other park types. Community gardens showed similar levels of visitation as rural sites, while recreational parks had lower visitation rates.
A tracking study of 56 tiger sharks reveals that older sharks travel faster and swim into deeper habitats than juvenile sharks. The analysis also shows that core habitats of tiger sharks overlap with locations designated as Habitat Areas of Particular Concern.
A study using chemical analysis reveals that the Hyksos rulers of Ancient Egypt were a multi-cultural group who rose to power from within. The research found that a large percentage of the population in the ancient capital city were non-locals who immigrated from various places, contradicting the common story of a sudden invasion.
Smartphone accelerometers measure key muscle training time-under-tension indicators, aiding in resistance workouts and rehabilitation. The study uses these devices to obtain scientific mechanical-biological descriptors of resistance exercise training, providing valuable insights for trainers and healthcare professionals.
Researchers developed a low-cost, customizable VR system to study animal behavior using freely moving small animals. The system, called PiVR, enables the delivery of virtual realities in real-time, allowing scientists to examine causal relationships between neural activity and specific behaviors.
The new ARRIVE 2.0 guidelines aim to simplify and streamline reporting of animal studies, promoting better study design and transparency. The guidelines prioritize two sets: Essential 10 for basic minimum reporting and a recommended set for context.
A survey of 604 UK participants found that over 80% experienced changes to their perception of time during the lockdown, with slower passage associated with older age and reduced social satisfaction. The study suggests that significant changes to daily routine can distort our perception of time.
A new influenza-monitoring system reveals critical biases in US disease surveillance, particularly among lower socioeconomic neighborhoods. The study suggests that these disparities are linked to reduced access to healthcare and increase the risk of hospitalization for flu-related complications.
A new study improves CRISPR gene editing by mutating the Cas9 enzyme to reduce off-target hits. The mutation increases fidelity up to 93-fold, making it a potentially safer strategy for gene therapy.
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a global consumption loss of $3.8 trillion, accompanied by job losses equivalent to 147 million full-time positions. However, decreases in production and air travel led to environmental benefits, including a 2.5 metric gigaton reduction in greenhouse gases.
Researchers discovered that ancient shells were deliberately collected and strung together as beads, with evidence of ochre coloring treatment found on four out of five shells. This study provides insight into the origins of string-making technology, likely between 160-120,000 years ago.
A small fossil jawbone from Alaska represents a rare example of juvenile dromaeosaurid dinosaur remains from the Arctic, providing clues to the history of dinosaur dispersal between continents. The study suggests that some dinosaurs likely nested in the far north, contradicting previous theories about their migration patterns.
A study tracked queen bumblebees' movements as they established nests, revealing changes in habitat selection and diet preferences. The findings suggest that diversified landscapes support bumblebee colonies by meeting their changing needs during different phases of their lifecycle.
A new PLOS Biology paper proposes a set of principles for creating and governing lists of the world's species, aiming to address the lack of an agreed list of all species. The proposed governance mechanism ensures that taxonomists' decisions are informed by stakeholders' needs.
A study examining elderly people's attitudes and compliance with COVID-19 preventative measures found that older adults are not more willing to isolate or wear masks, despite being most vulnerable to severe illness. However, they are more likely to avoid public transportation and small gatherings.
Scientists have discovered that the Anaplasmosis bacterium interferes with tick gene expression to survive and spread to new hosts. The study found that the bacterium reduces a regulatory molecule's production, leading to increased levels of Organic Anion Transporting Polypeptide (OATP), which enables its spread to vertebrate hosts.
An experiment by PLOS found that adding a second entrance to an ant's nest reduces their ability to find and distinguish between food sources of varying value. This reduction in efficiency occurs due to increased competition among the ants, leading to decreased overall foraging success.
Researchers have identified two submerged archaeological sites off the Australian coast, dating back at least 7,000 and 8,500 years. The findings demonstrate the potential of new exploratory techniques for locating ancient cultural artefacts on the continental shelf.
A study of 800 research papers found that papers with more popular media coverage tend to be more highly cited. The association between media coverage and citations suggests that media attention may influence the likelihood of a paper being cited by subsequent papers.
A recent study mapped mosquito insecticide resistance patterns across Africa, finding dramatic increases in resistance to five mainstream insecticides between 2005 and 2017. This surge in resistance poses a significant threat to malaria control efforts, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa where over half of all cases occur.
A study analyzing US police-involved fatalities across racial/ethnic groups found large variation in fatal police violence rates across metropolitan areas, with Black people being on average 3.23 times more likely to be killed than White people.
A study found that genetic variation affects the types of bacteria that infect wounds and the healing process. The researchers identified specific genes associated with microbiome diversity in chronic wounds, which could lead to predictive biomarkers and targeted therapies for patients at risk of persistent infections.
Researchers found that betta fish opponents undergo similar brain changes that become more synchronized after longer fights. The study suggests that even in aggressive behavior like fighting, brains may cooperate at the molecular level.
A study found that dog breeds labeled as 'cooperative' and 'independent' do not exhibit different responses to unfair outcomes, contrary to previous hypotheses. Dogs from both breed groups displayed inequity aversion, with some differences in behavior observed between the groups.
A machine-learning model analyzes histopathology slides to predict cancer prognosis and survival. The study, published in PLOS ONE, shows promise for improving cancer care.
A study by Kapitány and colleagues examines how children evaluate different types of non-real people or figures relative to one another. The results show that most children conceptualize the thirteen figures into four groups, with cultural figures like Santa and the Tooth Fairy ranked highly as 'real'.
A systematic review and meta-analysis found that approximately 50% of patients at primary care clinics in LMICs received at least one antibiotic, suggesting widespread overprescribing. The study also found that 60% of antibiotics were commonly used drugs with a low potential for selecting resistance.
A new study simulates the spread of COVID-19 in a densely populated refugee settlement in Bangladesh, predicting over 420,000 infected people and 2,800 deaths in one year. The researchers emphasize the need for innovative responses and intervention to quell the spread and treat the infected population.
A study of 34 pediatric COVID-19 patients in China found that children presented with mild to moderate symptoms, including fever and cough, which recovered within days after treatment. Chest CT scans revealed distinct lung patterns, highlighting the need for early diagnosis and intervention in suspected cases.
A new study found that people who feel more threatened by COVID-19 and have high levels of emotionality and conscientiousness are most likely to stockpile toilet paper. The study, which surveyed 1,029 adults from 35 countries, also found that older people and Americans were more likely to stockpile toilet paper.
A mathematical model reveals that territorial behaviors can dampen disease prevalence, but at the cost of increased disease persistence. This study suggests that indirect communication could play a more important role in disease transmission than previously thought.
Exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months of age reduces body mass index by up to 1.53 kg/m2 in high-risk individuals. The World Health Organization's recommendation is reinforced, suggesting a longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding may have the greatest benefits for obesity prevention.
The discovery of the ancient bird figurine from Lingjing site in China sheds light on humanity's earliest three-dimensional art. The figurine, dated to approximately 13.4-13.2 ka cal BP, features a technological and stylistic profile distinct from contemporaneous Western European and Siberian representations.
Researchers have developed a groundbreaking mouse model of human prion disease, demonstrating spontaneous formation of disease-relevant prion protein assemblies in mice with only human forms of the prion protein. This discovery is expected to provide valuable insights into human disease and inform the development of therapies.
A new study finds that disrupted sleep increases the risk of atherosclerosis and stroke by promoting inflammatory pathways. Sleep fragmentation was associated with higher neutrophil counts and coronary artery calcium, two markers of atherosclerosis pathology.
A new study found that probiotics with top-performing Lactobacillus strains can improve vaginal health and reduce the risk of bacterial vaginosis, a disruption in the optimal microbiota. The research suggests that these strains could lead to better treatment options for this condition.
Available data indicate heavy metal levels in some Alaskan soils often exceed average US levels, with critical gaps in monitoring due to limited publicly available data. The study highlights the need for further sampling near human populations and in permafrost-heavy regions to clarify exposure risks.
A recent study using radiocarbon dating and microarchaeology has pinpointed the construction dates of Wilson's Arch on Jerusalem's Temple Mount to between 20 BC and 60 AD during Herod the Great's reign. This new timeline resolves a long-standing debate about the entrance to the holiest site in Jerusalem.
Research published in PLOS ONE found that social status, not body size, determines reproductive success for female mountain gorillas. High-ranking females produce offspring more frequently due to preferential access to males. Dominance rank is linked to reproductive benefits, even with abundant food supply.
High-resolution imaging of human placenta reveals uniform oxygenation levels and efficient blood flow, while also discovering rapid draining from veins and utero-placental pump contractions that facilitate better circulation and fetal growth. These findings improve placental models and optimize MRI protocols for better diagnosis.
A study analyzing 100 billion tweets identified thousands of stretched words, including 'ha', 'awesome', and 'goal'. The researchers developed tools to measure stretch and balance, which could aid in natural language processing, search engines, and spam filters.
A PLOS study found nearly 29% of Jurassic bones bore theropod bites, with most targeting herbivores but some theropods feeding on each other. Scavenging may have been a response to food scarcity in stressed ecosystems.
A recent study analyzed 33 psychology meta-analyses and found that only 55% of effect sizes could be reproduced without issues. The researchers recommend improving data handling practices and workflow to increase the trustworthiness of meta-analytic results.
A study published in PLOS ONE reveals that Initial Upper Paleolithic technology reached North China by approximately 41,000 years ago. The new findings support the idea that this technology originated in the Altai region of Russia around 47,000 years ago and spread eastward across Asia.
A new study has found that high blood glucose levels before pregnancy can increase the risk of severe maternal morbidity and death, even in women without diabetes. The study analyzed data from over 31,000 women and found that elevated hemoglobin A1c levels were associated with a higher risk of adverse outcomes
Researchers studied the roles of Sierra Leonean journalists during the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak, finding they adapted to become educators and public mobilizers. Targeted training helped them identify safe reporting practices, improving their communication of public health messages.
A new study published in PLOS ONE found that social isolation is a risk factor for increased COVID-19 cases among older adults in Italy. Regions with larger households and high numbers of residential nursing homes experienced the highest rates of infection.