Articles tagged with Open Access
A pilot study examines graph-theoretical properties of brain networks in traumatic brain injury and controls, showing association with balance impairment and structural damage. The study uses EEG-based functional connectivity measures during a balance perturbation task to explore underlying neural mechanisms.
Chronic P. vivax infections cause significant damage to kidneys, brain, and circulatory system, affecting impoverished communities. The parasite can hide at low levels, making diagnosis difficult and treatment efforts challenging.
A new analysis of 134 studies found that color-coded nutrition labels and warnings encourage more healthful purchases. The study suggests that these labeling systems are beneficial in nudging consumers towards foods with lower levels of energy, sodium, fat, and saturated fat.
A PLOS study found that low-frequency magnetic stimulation can improve episodic memory by reducing beta-waves in the brain. The study, led by Mircea van der Plas and Simon Hanslmayr, used slow rTMS over the left prefrontal cortex to enhance verbal memory formation.
The BiCIKL project links biodiversity data types and classes across 14 European institutions, creating a Biodiversity Knowledge Hub for seamless access. This initiative streamlines Open Science and FAIR practices, empowering researchers with efficient tools to explore and utilize biodiversity data.
A study published in PLOS Biology found that Asian elephants successfully cooperated in 80% of trials, using strategies like fighting back or moving sides to prevent cheating. However, cooperation quickly broke down when one partner could monopolize the reward, revealing a complex dynamic in their social behavior.
Female vampire bats with close social bonds leave the roost separately but reunite when hunting, indicating a preference for cooperative foraging. The study also reveals three distinct call types used during foraging trips, including one that may help identify friends and foes.
A new study suggests that autobiographical memories of authentic and inauthentic experiences serve specific purposes, such as defining identity and enhancing self-fulfilment. Reflecting on these experiences can also improve problem-solving skills and promote a more authentic response.
The Science Communication Lab has received a 3-year NSF grant to create new films and virtual workshops about novel breakthroughs and techniques in science. The lab aims to expand its work across filmmaking and education to reach broad and diverse audiences, emphasizing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
A lidar mapping study of ancient Teotihuacan shows that the city's engineers reshaped the landscape for construction, rerouted rivers to align with astronomical significance, and identified hundreds of previously unknown architectural features. The study confirms how these modifications continue to influence modern activities in the area.
A team of researchers has discovered a new group of coral-infecting microbes called Corallicolida. Despite lacking photosynthetic genes, they express chlorophyll genes and may still play a role in their host cells. The authors propose that Corallicolida could be an ancient parasite that lost its photosynthetic machinery.
A study published in PLOS Genetics found that smoking-related DNA methylation patterns explain around 1/5 of the variation in body mass index between individuals. The study analyzed genomic sequence data from over 390,000 participants and found that genetics accounted for 50% of the variation in BMI.
A new analysis suggests that the pace of vaccination should directly dictate the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions to boost freedoms and minimize new waves of infection. The study's findings suggest that further severe waves can be avoided if restrictions are lifted no faster than the pace dictated by vaccination progress.
The Canadian Research Knowledge Network (CRKN) has partnered with the MIT Press to manage central licensing and invoicing for Direct to Open (D2O), a framework for open access monographs. Twenty-eight libraries have elected to participate, earning exclusive benefits such as archive access and discounting on trade books.
A study found that palm phytoplasmas in Florida were transmitted by the American palm cixiid bug, originating from Jamaica. The research revealed a network of movement across the Caribbean basin, with distinct groups of insects found in different countries.
Thanks to a 3-year grant from the Arcadia Fund, IUCN will promote and improve researchers' open access to high-quality conservation knowledge. A lack of access to scientific literature is a major obstacle for roughly half of surveyed conservation experts.
A new species of wood lizard, Enyalioides feiruzae, has been described from the premontane forest of the Huallaga river basin in Peru. The lizard features stunning color variations and is believed to have established as a separate species due to geographical separation from a similar lizard.
A new 3D spiral gradient recalled echo (GRE) sequence has been developed to overcome conventional challenges in head and neck MRI. This sequence achieves improved image quality and contrast-to-noise ratio compared to traditional Cartesian sequences, while reducing scan time by up to 44.6%.
A new commentary paper highlights the need for more research into the microbes living in and on sea creatures. The authors propose a research agenda to fill knowledge gaps and improve our understanding of beneficial microbes' roles in marine ecosystems.
A new approach to modeling COVID-19 spread incorporates real-time data on people's movements, showing promise for optimal lockdown policies. The study suggests a balance between controlling the pandemic and minimizing economic costs can be achieved through mathematical models and Google mobility data.
A single-center retrospective study found that AI-CAD reduced recall rates and improved accuracy compared to digital mammography (DM) and DBT. The study showed lower recall rates and higher accuracy for DM with AI-CAD, indicating a practical addition to lowering false-positive findings.
A new study reveals that just 42% of nations have expanded their scientific understanding of bird species distributions in the last decade. The researchers developed two new metrics to assess biodiversity data coverage and effectiveness, finding that regions like Asia and South America are closing knowledge gaps.
A study published in PLOS Biology found that shark diversity remained relatively constant during the mass extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous period. However, some groups of apex predators suffered selective extinctions, while others increased in diversity after the K-Pg boundary.
A new study demonstrates that artificial intelligence networks based on human brain connectivity can perform cognitive tasks efficiently. Researchers created a brain connectivity pattern and applied it to an artificial neural network, which performed cognitive memory tasks more flexibly and efficiently than other benchmark architectures.
The Covid-19 pandemic had a mixed impact on the EU labour market, with some countries experiencing significant increases in unemployment and inactivity rates. Notably, the Baltic States saw substantial growth in inactive citizens, while Poland was a 'unique case' where both unemployment and inactivity fell slightly.
Researchers created a new open-access database to speed up the repurposing of old drugs as new treatments for various conditions. The NICEdrug.ch database includes information on 250,000 potential drug molecules and shows promising results in predicting drug behavior.
A new study published in the Social Bulletin of Psychology found that right-wing authoritarianism is more closely tied to how people acquire positive attitudes than changing them. The researchers suggest that individuals with RWA tend to be more sensitive to negative information, leading them to stick to positive information and avoid ...
Lehigh University researcher Roberto Palmieri aims to make RDMA technology even faster by revisiting a long-held theory. His goal is to enable all machines to interact with local memory, reducing latency and improving performance.
A 48-year record of Australian collecting trips has been made publicly available, providing accurate details on specimen collection dates and locations. The data is now accessible via the Zenodo open-data repository in Darwin Core format.
The MIT Press has partnered with Jisc to provide central licensing and invoicing for Direct to Open, a framework that moves books from a market-based model to a library-supported open access model. Libraries committing to D2O before September 30 will earn exclusive benefits, including term access to an archive of gated titles.
Researchers have identified a recurring trend of elevated blood glucose levels among those with severe Covid-19, which impairs lung immune defense and facilitates cytokine storm. Tight control and management of glycemia may be crucial for better outcomes, and metformin shows potential as a treatment option.
A significant minority of people in Kentucky's indoor public areas fail to wear masks correctly during the pandemic. The study found higher compliance rates in larger stores and affluent city districts. Men aged 40-60 are most likely to be unmasked or incorrectly masked.
A new study published in PLOS Biology elucidates a female sex pheromone pathway in cockroaches, revealing that blocking an enzyme reduces pheromone production and female attractiveness. The study provides valuable insights into insect sexual behavior regulation.
A recent study published in BMC Medicine found that drinking moderate amounts of alcohol daily can decrease the risk of heart attacks, strokes, angina, or death among individuals with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Those who consumed between six and eight grams of alcohol per day had significantly lower risks compared to non-drinkers.
The Royal Astronomical Society has launched a new gold open access journal, RAS Techniques and Instruments, to bridge the gap between generalist and specialist journals in these fields. The journal will publish high-quality papers on instrumentation, data science, machine learning, software, and numerical methods.
A study found that Airbnb listings were associated with increased violence in Boston neighborhoods, but not with public social disorder or private conflict. The researchers suggest that the presence of short-term rentals may erode local social dynamics and lead to increased violence over time.
Research in Maldives reveals diverse associations between manta rays and 'hitchhiker' fish. New species of symbionts were discovered, expanding our understanding of these unique relationships.
A study using data from 186 countries found a significant correlation between lower UVB exposure and higher rates of colorectal cancer across all age groups. Lower UVB exposure may reduce levels of vitamin D, which has been associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer.
A recent study found that minority groups in the US are more likely to experience cognitive issues earlier in life. The study analyzed data from over 179,000 adults and found that Black and Hispanic individuals were more likely to self-report memory loss and cognitive decline compared to white individuals.
The Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS) has announced its transition to a Gold Open Access publishing model with Elsevier. This change aims to increase public access to innovative life sciences research and drive citations for both SLAS Discovery and SLAS Technology journals.
A new study reveals that young men are more likely to engage in direct political actions, while women prefer civic activities like volunteering. The researchers attribute this gap to societal roles and expectations instilled from an early age.
The Terasaki Institute has been awarded a grant by the Good Food Institute to develop an innovative method for producing cultivated meat. The project aims to address scalability and cost challenges in alternative protein production, using unique microcarriers to differentiate cell cultures.
A study in Poland found that government responsibility was a leading factor in attributing COVID-19 incidence rates. Political views and mental health symptoms also played significant roles, with liberal-leaning individuals blaming the government more than conservative ones.
A new analysis of over 7,300 Australian users of dating websites found that men and women prioritize similar traits in their sexual attraction, but to varying degrees. Physical build, attractiveness, and personality are highly important across both sexes, with women placing greater emphasis on age, education, and emotional connection.
A study found 39 incidents of seized porcupines in Indonesia from 2013 to 2020, highlighting the country's lack of controls on hunting and trade. The researchers recommend categorizing all porcupine species as protected under Indonesian wildlife laws.
A study published in Social Psychological Bulletin found that Polish adults blamed the government more for COVID-19 incidence rates than personal responsibility or anxiety levels. Political views played a significant role in attributing blame, with liberal-leaning individuals blaming the government more than conservatives.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that participants who were touched by a humanoid robot during conversation reported a better emotional state. Those who received non-functional touch from the robot were more likely to comply with requests and exhibit positive behavioral responses, suggesting potential for robots to boost motivation.
Researchers are bridging gaps between scientists from different fields to merge knowledge and create innovated, reliable products. Biophotonic innovations are expected to transform healthcare for the next few decades.
A new MDAR Framework has been developed to harmonize outcome recording across major journals and establish basic minimum reporting requirements. The framework is designed to be flexible and adaptable to individual journal needs, aiming to reduce the burden on authors and editors.
A new species of deep-sea dumbo octopus has been identified using a combination of non-invasive and minimally invasive techniques. The study utilized MRI, micro-CT, and gene analysis to gather morphological and molecular information on the specimen without causing harm.
Researchers found that AI algorithms significantly influenced participants' decisions on fictitious political candidates and online dating partners. The study suggests people prefer human-explicit advice for subjective matters like dating but rely on algorithms for rational decisions.
Researchers identified two dietary patterns associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death in middle-age. The first pattern includes high intakes of chocolate, confectionary, butter, and white bread, while the second is characterized by high sugar-sweetened beverages, fruit juice, and preserves.
A new analysis of air pollution data from five large Chinese cities found statistically significant differences between locally-reported and US embassy-reported measurements. The study suggests that when air quality is poor, local stations systematically report lower PM2.5 levels than reported by US stations.
A study published in PLOS Biology suggests delaying the second dose of COVID-19 vaccines for 9-15 weeks after the first dose can avoid more hospitalizations, infections, and deaths. The researchers found that prioritizing widespread inoculation with available first doses is critical to mitigating adverse outcomes.
The University of Houston receives a $1.35 million grant to create a free, open-access database of Puerto Rican literature, including photographs, manuscripts, poems, and videos. The digital portal aims to make the works of key Puerto Rican poets widely accessible to scholars and reading communities.
A study of 264,230 individuals found that UK adults who are overweight or obese retain their weight over time, associated with an increased risk of health complications and death. The researchers also found greater levels of socioeconomic deprivation linked to increasing severity of obesity.
Researchers have developed an algorithm to identify features of male zebra finch songs underpinning the distinction between courtship and non-courtship contexts. The study suggests a potential for 'bottom-up' approaches to drive discovery in vocal communication, uncovering previously unidentified features.
A new venomous snake species, Suzhen's krait, has been discovered in Southwestern China and Northern Myanmar. The snake is named after the mythical figure Bai Su Zhen from traditional Chinese mythology.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that immersive VR videos of art and natural scenes elicit similar levels of 'the sublime', but with distinct sub-dimensions. Nature-based videos evoked a greater sense of vastness, existential danger, fear, and positive affect compared to art-based videos.
A new study published in the American Journal of Roentgenology found that CT colonography with a 10 mm threshold is the most effective and efficient non-invasive screening test for colorectal cancer prevention and detection. This method targets advanced neoplasia while reducing unnecessary colonoscopies compared to other tests.