Researchers used computer simulations to investigate wind and water conditions that cause Kemp's ridley sea turtles to become stranded on beaches in Cape Cod. The study found that turtles are more likely to strand when water temperatures drop below 10.5°C and winds blow with high wind stress.
Ancient Romans used timber from eastern France (Jura mountains) for portico construction in Rome. The oak planks were transported over 1700km via rivers before reaching the city.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that long-term exposure to hydrocarbons in the air may be a risk factor for ischemic stroke development. The research analyzed data from Taiwan's National Health Institute Research Database and found significant associations between air pollution levels and increased risk of ischemic stroke.
Researchers suggest that small Neanderthal populations were vulnerable to extinction due to inbreeding and demographic fluctuations. Population modeling revealed that even moderate levels of inbreeding and Allee effects could lead to extinction across various population sizes.
Ostrich eggshell bead sizes in southern Africa increased with herding introduced around 2,000 years ago, while eastern Africa showed consistently larger sizes over several thousand years without correlation to herding. This suggests that cultural transmission of beads is more complex and not solely linked to herding practices.
The CHIRPY DRAGON program, developed to prevent obesity in urban primary school-aged children in China, showed significant beneficial effects on healthy eating habits, physical activity, and sedentary behavior. Children who received the program had a lower body-mass index compared to those in control schools.
A new essay in PLOS Biology argues that poverty compromises health by creating unequal access to beneficial microorganisms. People living in low-income communities lack essential factors promoting healthy microbiomes, leading to poor health outcomes such as obesity and mental health disorders.
Researchers found transposable elements and gene expansions related to antioxidants in the rat lungworm parasite, suggesting adaptive evolution. The study also discovered convergent evolution of a key enzyme with flukes, which share similar host requirements.
A simple computational model explains why different four-legged animals adopt similar gaits, revealing that walking at slow speeds and running or trotting at intermediate speeds are globally optimal strategies. The results support the idea that mammals utilize movement strategies that optimize energy use when they move.
Research reveals that MDA programmes often fail to reach marginalized communities due to inequitable treatment delivery, affecting PC NTD prevention. The study highlights the need for consideration of gender and equity issues in health systems to address these disparities.
A new mathematical model predicts the presence of undetectable metastases based on primary tumor size, which is associated with a poorer prognosis. The model accurately reflects clinical study data for several cancer types, highlighting the potential dangers of delays in surgery for smaller tumors.
A new study uses deep neural networks to accurately assess neurological disorders in rats and mice, identifying key features of motor impairments. This breakthrough technology has the potential to standardize diagnosis and monitoring of neurological disorders, enabling early interventions and improved patient outcomes.
Melting of 'eternal ice' patches in northern Mongolia poses a significant threat to traditional reindeer herding and exposes fragile cultural artifacts to the elements. The study, published in PLOS ONE, highlights the urgent need to address global climate change's impact on Inner Asia.
Researchers developed a faster and stronger rabies vaccine by adding B cell activating factor (BAFF) to an existing inactivated virus-based vaccine. This new approach enhanced the immune system's response, increasing virus-neutralizing antibodies quickly and significantly.
Researchers tested a two-step task to train people to rely on goal-oriented behaviors, but found no substantial change in behavior or brain activity. The study suggests that the task's methodological drawbacks make it unsuitable for training purposes.
Research in rats reveals that brain-wave bursts, like earthquakes, are necessary for healthy sleep. These non-equilibrium dynamics and criticality underlie sleep micro-architecture, governing spontaneous transitions between sleep stages.
Researchers found altered immune responses and sex-specific brain abnormalities in healthy pig offspring infected with Zika virus in-utero. The study suggests new strategies to prevent long-term effects of Zika infection.
Researchers discovered that Crohn's disease-associated bacteria can switch between replicating and non-growing states within macrophages to tolerate antibiotics. This stress response allows a reservoir of antibiotic-tolerant bacteria to survive in the host and cause long-term inflammation and irritation.
A DNA study reveals that ancient Egyptians did not domesticate Sacred Ibises for ritual use, contrary to previous theories. The research suggests that the birds were short-term tamed in natural habitats or farmed seasonally.
A study found that higher-income households are more likely to irrigate, fertilize, and use pesticides in their yards. Neighborly pressure may also play a role, with those knowing more neighbors more likely to engage in these practices.
Researchers found a technical bias in RNA-seq data, leading to false results and misinterpretation of biological functions. The study highlights the importance of proper statistical handling to filter out false calls and preserve genuine findings.
Researchers found that gene activity in brain regions called song nuclei is associated with species-specific patterns of singing in songbirds. The study identified a signaling molecule called BDNF as a mediator of changes in trans-regulated genes, which disrupted the structures of learned songs in adult zebra finches.
A study found that young male cancer survivors with low testosterone levels experienced an average decrease in fat mass and increase in lean mass when treated with testosterone replacement therapy. However, there was no effect on quality of life.
A population-based cohort study found that people with substantial changes in blood pressure over time were at greater risk of dementia. Variations in systolic and diastolic blood pressure led to similar findings, suggesting potential to prevent dementia through targeting blood pressure variability.
Research reveals that mated female mosquitoes are more susceptible to transmitting malaria parasites, highlighting the importance of targeting male mosquitoes in vector control measures. This study provides new insights into the impact of mating on mosquito susceptibility to P. falciparum.
A long-term study of red deer on the Isle of Rum has found that genetic change due to natural selection is contributing to the species' shift towards earlier birth times. This trend is linked to increased reproductive success and the spread of genes associated with breeding earlier.
The PLOS Medicine special issue examines the challenges of substance use and misuse, including opioid epidemic in the US and differences in risks among refugees and non-refugee migrants. Research findings suggest that programmes focusing on prescription opioids may be missing a growing proportion of people at risk of harm from opioid m...
A study published in PLOS Genetics found that heavy smoking causes faces to look older due to accelerated facial aging. Researchers also identified a higher risk of poor lung function and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among smokers.
A new computational analysis suggests that fish can minimize energy consumption by balancing muscle dynamics and hydrodynamics. The study, published in PLOS Computational Biology, shows that optimal swimming speeds depend on an optimal balance between these two factors.
A new software tool called Fungal Feature Tracker can analyze images of filamentous fungi to quantify their spores, branch networks and growth patterns, enabling faster data collection than traditional manual techniques. This advancement could improve our understanding of fungal biology and morphology.
Computational modeling suggests delayed neural communication underlies anticipatory behaviors, such as tapping along with a metronome or coordinating rowing. The study found that non-musicians exhibit a larger anticipatory tendency than musicians due to pruned attention towards external stimuli.
Researchers found filovirus antibodies in 5.9% of human samples and up to 13.3% of bat species, including those with Ebola virus, Bundibugyo virus, Sudan virus, Marburg virus, and Mengla virus antibodies. The study highlights the need for surveillance at the human-animal interface.
Researchers discovered a genetic variant in the Epas1 gene that enables high-altitude deer mice to survive by increasing their heart rate in response to low oxygen levels. This adaptation is also found in Tibetans living at high altitudes, suggesting potential benefits for long-term survival.
A study released in PLOS ONE identified 75 species of mosses and liverworts preserved alongside Ötzi, providing insights into the ancient Alps ecosystem. The bryophyte community around 5,000 years ago was similar to today's, while non-local species confirm Ötzi's route through the Schnalstal valley.
A new study found that girls are less likely to engage in physical activities, with reduced social support and modeling from parents and peers. Interventions targeting peer modeling may help mitigate age-related decline in physical activity among girls.
Interventions aimed at reducing obesity, sedentary behavior, smoking cessation, and improving physical activity have the potential to delay or reduce frailty. Age is a strong predictor of frailty, with other variables such as modifiable risk factors like obesity and lower body strength also being significant risk factors.
A study found that Trump's immigration statements made Latino immigrants feel unsafe and anxious, leading to delayed healthcare access. The survey of 452 undocumented immigrants revealed a significant impact on their perceptions of safety and emergency care.
Researchers have discovered dozens of dinosaur footprints in Alaska's Alaskan Peninsula, revealing that high-latitude hadrosaurs preferred tidally influenced habitats. The findings provide insights into the habitat preferences of these highly successful herbivores and their role in shaping ancient ecosystems.
A new study found that daily mean temperatures are associated with increased undernutrition hospitalization rates in Brazil. Heat exposure was estimated to be responsible for 15.6% of undernutrition hospitalization during the study period, with vulnerable populations showing the greatest impact.
A genetic test can now be developed for the mutation discovered in the RAPGEF6 gene in miniature bull terriers. The study identifies an important role for RAPGEF6 in laryngeal nerve function, with carriers of the mutation having a 10- to 17-fold increased risk of laryngeal paralysis.
A study published in PLOS Genetics found that obesity is associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes in women and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic kidney disease in men. The researchers analyzed data from over 423,000 participants and identified distinct patterns of disease association for each sex.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE found that many popular food products sold in the EU fail to meet nutrition criteria set to restrict marketing to children. The research analyzed over 2,700 pre-packaged foods across 20 EU countries and discovered that nearly 70% of products were ineligible for direct marketing to kids.
Analysis of 126 local vessels and seven imported Attic ceramics revealed the presence of Mediterranean grape wine earlier than expected. This suggests that wine was available to all members of the community, at least early in Heuneburg's history, complicating previous assumptions about elite consumption practices.
A new analysis suggests that Medicaid expansion provided greater improvements in health insurance coverage for married people, particularly women, compared to unmarried individuals. The study found that after expansion, uninsured rates were lower for married women by 1.6 percentage points than for unmarried women.
A new study published in PLOS Medicine found that women are significantly less likely to receive Canadian federal research funding than men, with a risk ratio of 0.89 for grant awards and 0.75 for personnel awards. The disparity was observed across various research content areas, with some exceptions, such as Aboriginal People's Health...
A new study published in PLOS Biology reveals that it takes about 3 million years for aggression levels to decline when males are exposed to songs from distant populations in Amazonia. In contrast, temperate North America species exhibit a quicker response time of around half a million years.
A research team has isolated a potent compound that paralyzes parasitic worms causing devastating health problems. The discovery could lead to new ways to fight schistosomiasis, a disease with no alternative treatment besides praziquantel.
A study of popular UK restaurant chains found that establishments with voluntary menu labeling served items with 45% less fat and 60% less salt than those without. This suggests that mandatory labeling could encourage restaurants to improve the nutritional quality of their menus.
A study found high rates of 'cold-loving' fungus infection in frogs from the Peruvian Amazon, a region previously thought to be free from disease. The discovery suggests that important reservoirs of infection may exist beyond areas with high mortality rates, threatening global frog populations.
A study published in PLOS Biology found that 2018's record-breaking snowfall led to a reproductive failure across Arctic ecosystems. This event highlights the devastating effects of climate variability and extreme weather events on Arctic species.