A recent survey of the Bornean orangutan population in Sabah, Malaysia shows that populations have remained stable within well-managed forests, but declined in areas with extensive oil palm plantations. The study, published in PLOS ONE, provides valuable insights into the conservation management of this endangered species.
A survey analysis suggests that the relationship between workplace sexual harassment and women's negative self-views weakened between 2016 and 2018. Reported levels of unwanted sexual attention and coercion dropped, while gender harassment increased as a backlash to the #MeToo movement.
A recent study suggests that Mesolithic hunter-gatherers in Europe developed new hunting projectiles and changed their stone tool shapes in response to changing climate conditions. The research found frequent co-existence of different microlith shapes, which may have been used as symbols of group membership.
Designated protected areas in Europe have reduced land cover changes, but the buffer zones around them still experience frequent changes
A new study published in PLOS Medicine found that intranasal sufentanil is non-inferior to IV morphine for acute severe trauma pain, offering a faster and more convenient alternative. The study involved 136 patients who received either intranasal sufentanil or IV morphine, with similar pain relief results at 30 minutes.
Research in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases reveals that house mice have dramatically shaped Toxoplasma gondii populations globally. The study found four main lineages of the parasite, one newly described, which differ between inland and coastal regions.
Researchers found that the rate at which a patient's immune system clears slow-growing variants of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is crucial in determining whether antibiotics can cure the infection. A new mathematical model suggests that a drug targeting slow-growing MRSA variants may be the most effective treatmen...
A computational model simulates how pain is transmitted from a nerve to the spinal cord's dorsal horn, reproducing experimental results on pain sensitivity. The model suggests a potential mechanism for neuropathic pain's flipped sensitivity rhythm: a change from inhibition to excitation in synaptic connections between nerve cells.
A recent study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases investigated the expression levels of two immune proteins, interleukin-17 and matrix metalloprotein-9, in mycetoma grains. The researchers found that these molecules are present in specific zones of the grains and correspond with disease duration and lesion size.
A moth caterpillar uses acids and scraping behaviors to disable latex defense systems in poinsettia plants, allowing it to feed safely. This unique strategy is thought to have evolved as a result of co-opting an existing anti-predator deterrent.
Researchers identified a potent pheromone called spermine in the semen of sea lampreys that attracts only ovulatory female sea lampreys. The discovery may reveal a new mechanism for male animals to recruit mates through chemical cues in semen, potentially with implications for conservation and management of sea lamprey populations.
Scientists have successfully encoded and decoded digital images using metabolites, demonstrating a potential alternative to microchips for data storage. The study achieves an accuracy rate of 98-99.5%, encoding over 100,000 bits of information into synthetic metabolomes.
A fossilized skull from the Upper Paleolithic period reveals two injuries at or near the time of death, consistent with consecutive blows from a bat-like object. The analysis suggests that the individual died as a result of intentional violence, pointing to the practice of homicide among early humans.
During their first year of university, males experience greater unhealthy weight gain due to poor diets, while females fare better. Sex-specific interventions are crucial to improve dietary habits and mitigate negative health consequences.
Mathematical analysis of online perfume data reveals which notes and accords contribute to a perfume's popularity, consumer ratings, and success. The study found that popular notes and accords often don't correlate with the highest ratings.
A meta-analysis of 15 million pregnancies found that the longer a pregnancy continues past 37 weeks gestation, the higher the risk of stillbirth. The risk increased with advancing gestation, with a 64% increase in stillbirths between 40-41 weeks and 3.18 stillbirths per 1000 pregnancies at 42 weeks.
Researchers found that social isolation triggers aggression in spiders after they disperse, reversing their initial social behavior. This discovery challenges the long-held assumption that aggression is a precursor to dispersal in spiderlings.
Visceral leishmaniasis, transmitted by sand flies, can be prevented if diagnosed and treated early. Women in endemic regions face barriers to seeking care, leading to delayed treatment and increased mortality.
A new study suggests people stop gathering evidence earlier when it supports their desired conclusion than when it opposes it. This bias is driven by a tendency to weight favorable evidence more heavily than opposing evidence, leading individuals to prematurely conclude in favor of their preconceived notion.
A new computational modeling method, MTV-LMM, predicts how the gut microbiome will change over time by analyzing snapshots of microbes found in a person's gut. This could lead to better diagnosis and treatment of diseases, as well as insights into other types of temporal microbiome processes.
A new AI tool called EternaBrain uses a neural network approach to predict the choices of top players in an internet-based videogame. The researchers discovered that EternaBrain outperforms random guessing and performs similarly or better than previously developed algorithms.
A study published in PLOS Pathogens found that pathogenic fungal spores can escape the lung and infect the brain, causing fatal disease. The research sheds light on how Cryptococcus, a common human fungal pathogen, causes meningitis.
Shrimp fed on acidic algae exhibited 63% female population, while those on normal pH had 36% females. Algal growth was correlated with CO2 levels in acidic waters, disrupting ocean's ecological balance.
Researchers found that RNA viruses from managed honeybees were transmitted to wild bumblebees through shared floral resources. The study suggests that managing apiaries may exacerbate the decline of vulnerable bumblebee species.
The site, occupied between 71,000 and 54,000 years ago, reveals repeated use of an open-air settlement, challenging previous assumptions about short-lived settlements. Researchers found evidence of general activities, including tool-making, resource provisioning, and on-site consumption, indicating a stable settlement system.
A new study found that walking interventions can lead to sustained increases in physical activity and a reduced risk of cardiovascular events and fractures. The research followed participants with pedometer-based walking interventions for up to four years, demonstrating the long-term health benefits of increased walking activity.
A study found that increased educational attainment during childhood is associated with reduced heart disease and improved cardiovascular risk factors in adulthood. The authors suggest that policies to increase educational attainment could help reduce the burden of heart disease at a population level.
A new study found nearly a third of Cambodian population infected with Strongyloides stercoralis. The threadworm is associated with increased risk in older individuals, open defecation, and lower knowledge about helminth infections.
Researchers found that extracellular pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa can enter host cells and induce cell lysis through the type III secretion system. The study reveals a new mechanism of bacterial killing in macrophages.
Researchers analyzed paper mulberry genetic samples to study prehistoric human movements in Oceania. The analysis revealed a clear genetic structure and dispersion patterns that match archaeological and linguistic data, providing insights into past human interactions and population dispersal.
Patients managing their health via electronic patient portals had fewer emergency room visits and hospitalizations. Access to the portal was associated with more outpatient office visits, fewer emergency department visits, and fewer preventable hospital stays in patients with multiple complex chronic conditions.
A study of married couples in Vietnam found that a present-biased spouse tends to receive more money from their spouse's earnings and is less likely to save. External savings commitment devices like retirement plans or ROSCAs can help protect money from a present-biased spouse.
The study found that Early Celts in Burgundy imported Mediterranean pottery, olive oil, and wine, and adapted them to their own culture. They used foreign vessels to drink local beers spiced with pine resins, as well as home-grown beverages like millet-based beer.
Self-reported cigarette smoking rates increased by 3.8 percentage points among under-represented minority students after affirmative action bans were enacted. This study found a link between college affirmative action bans and adverse effects on health risk behaviors in minority populations.
Inflammation in the auditory cortex of mice with noise-induced hearing loss is associated with elevated proinflammatory cytokines and microglia activation, leading to tinnitus. Pharmacological blockade or depletion of these cells can prevent tinnitus in affected mice.
Researchers found that homing pigeons increase their wingbeat frequency by one extra beat per second when flying in pairs compared to solo. This is equivalent to Usain Bolt running at his usual speed while adding nearly one extra step per second.
Researchers used a non-invasive device to investigate blood volume and oxygenation in freely diving harbor seals, finding that they constrict peripheral blood vessels and increase cerebral blood volume before submersion. This suggests that seals have cognitive control over their circulatory systems.
Researchers have developed a mutant version of the RhlR quorum-sensing receptor, which does not require an autoinducer to function. This discovery provides new insights into cell-cell communication and virulence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a globally important pathogen.
A new mathematical model predicts people's card-picking choices in the Iowa Gambling Task with greater accuracy than previous models. The model reveals that sequential exploration behaviors decline with age, suggesting a shift in balance between drive to explore and exploit.
Researchers have discovered a previously unreported strategy employed by the virus responsible for chickenpox and shingles to powerfully inhibit natural killer cell function. This impairment enables the virus to paralyze natural killer cells, rendering them unable to respond to target cells, thereby evading the immune response.
A study of over 600 infant genomes found that variations in the SLIT2 gene may contribute to premature births by activating the mother's immune system. The researchers also discovered a link between the SLIT2-ROBO1 signalling pathway and multiple pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia and ectopic pregnancy.
Researchers attach a removable lock to an arthritis drug to reduce systemic immune suppression and neutralization, making it safer and more effective. The modified form of the antibody shows promise in treating rheumatoid arthritis with fewer infections and less development of anti-infliximab antibodies.
Researchers estimate that at least half of Ebola outbreaks have gone undetected, resulting in hundreds of potential cases. The study highlights the need for improved detection and rapid response to prevent small outbreaks from growing into larger events.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that US honey bees in urban settings collect a diverse range of pollen sources, with the most diverse in California and the least in Texas. The researchers tracked pollen collection across four states over two seasons, identifying key plant groups that provide consistent pollen year-round.
Researchers found that young adults burned significantly more kilocalories per minute while standing than sitting or lying, with no significant association between energy expenditure and body composition. Increasing standing time is a simple way to boost energy expenditure, lending support to efforts to counteract sedentary lifestyles.
A study of nearly 800,000 NYC schoolchildren found that Black, Hispanic, and Asian students live closer to unhealthy food outlets than White students. The researchers used precise home and school address data to calculate distance to each student's closest food outlet.
A systematic review and meta-analysis found that mothers with pre-pregnancy obesity are up to three times more likely to have obese children. The study suggests that interventions targeting weight management in women of childbearing age could help prevent intergenerational obesity.
A systematic review of government policies aimed at reducing human antimicrobial use identified 17 types of interventions, but most were not rigorously evaluated. The authors recommend that governments ensure AMR policy interventions are tested using rigorous study designs to avoid future waste of public resources.
Researchers identified a previously unknown pocket on the surface of picornaviruses, which can be stabilized by a newly-discovered compound. This stabilization prevents shape change and interaction with host cells, making it a promising strategy for developing antiviral medications.
A study suggests that increasing Ghanaian cocoa prices by up to 47% could potentially eliminate all forms of child labor from cocoa production. The model assumes that the price premium mitigates the negative financial effects for households, maintaining current living standards.