Articles tagged with Open Access
Young children exhibit similar associative learning and problem-solving skills to birds until around 8 years old. After this age, their performance surpasses that of the birds, according to a new study published in PLOS ONE.
A 500-year-old Incan mummy was found to have a bacterial lung infection at the time of death, according to a new study published in PLOS ONE. The researchers used proteomics to analyze immune system response from degraded samples and found that one mummy had a protein profile similar to those with chronic respiratory infections.
Researchers have documented the physiological events in lace plant leaves during programmed cell death (PCD), revealing how cells dismantle and disappear. The study used long-term live cell imaging and staining to observe the progression of PCD, which is essential for producing the characteristic holes in the leaves.
A naturally occurring line of immunodeficient pigs can support the growth of human tumors, making them a promising large animal model for studying human cancers. The ability of human melanoma cells and pancreatic carcinoma cells to grow in these pig models could lead to significant advancements in cancer research and drug discovery.
Women experiencing high job strain are more than twice as likely to have a heart attack compared to those with low-strain jobs. A 10-year study found that elevated job strain has long-term cardiovascular health effects in women.
New research suggests that Neandertal arm morphology was caused by scraping activities such as hide preparation, not spear thrusting. This challenges the previous hypothesis that spear thrusting was responsible for the observed asymmetry in their skeletons.
Researchers have developed a new body shape index (ABSI) that combines BMI and waist circumference to predict mortality hazard independently of BMI. The study analyzed data from over 14,000 US adults, finding ABSI to be strongly correlated with death rate.
A novel yeast strain has been developed that can produce bioethanol from xylose, a previously untapped sugar in plants. The hybrid yeast outperforms existing strains in ethanol production and xylose fermentation efficiency.
Directly targeting microRNA-125b to block androgen receptor activity represents a novel approach for treating castrate-resistant prostate cancer. The study provides new insight into the mechanism of miR-125b regulation of castrate-resistance prostate cancer.
A new study published in BMC Medicine has found that open access journals are producing high-quality peer-reviewed articles with a similar scientific impact to traditional subscription journals. The study compared the citation rates of over 610 open access journals and over 7,000 subscription journals, finding that the differences disa...
A new study found that young children who watched more hours of TV had worse muscular fitness and larger waist sizes by adolescence. This correlation could lead to increased risk of adult health problems if left unaddressed. Researchers recommend reducing screen time for toddlers to promote healthy physical development.
Current genomic research resources and bioinformatics methods are insufficient for personalized genomic medicine, citing shorter linkage disequilibrium regions and unprobed variants.
A widely-held belief that certain eye movements indicate lying has been debunked in a new study published in PLOS ONE. The researchers found no correlation between eye movement direction and truthfulness, challenging existing approaches to detecting deceit.
Research published in PLOS ONE reveals a significant association between menopausal hormone therapy and high blood pressure in postmenopausal women. Longer use of hormone therapy was found to increase the odds of developing high blood pressure, although this risk decreased with age.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that sharing a meal with a former romantic partner is more likely to make the current partner jealous than other activities. The researchers also found no significant differences in jealousy reported by male and female participants.
GigaScience offers a new era of publishing with its open access, open data format, hosting large datasets and analysis tools alongside traditional articles. This allows readers to test scientific conclusions using underlying data and analysis tools, overcoming reproducibility issues.
Researchers have discovered ancient domesticated caprines at Leopard Cave in Namibia, dated to the end of the first millennium BC. The findings provide new insights into the origins of domestication and herding practices in southern Africa.
GigaScience, a new journal from BGI and BioMed Central, publishes large-scale biological research in a unique format that combines standard articles with complete data hosting and analysis tools. This allows readers to test scientific conclusions using underlying data and analysis tools.
Research reveals that king penguins in areas with daily human disturbance show less stress from noise and approaching humans, but experience increased heart rate after capture. The study emphasizes the importance of considering human presence effects on ecological studies and conservation measures.
Researchers found that chronic inflammation caused by immune system challenges can lead to long-term neurological changes and memory problems in mice. The study suggests that this early event may be an important step in the development of Alzheimer's disease.
Research reveals that ants farm subterranean aphids in clone groups, with over half of ant mounds containing a single species or clone. This unique farming method allows ants to actively manage diversity and abundance, maximizing honeydew yield and dietary protein.
Research found that consuming more dietary vitamin B12 and animal protein lowered arsenic levels in toenails, while eating more vegetable and animal fat also had a protective effect. However, omega-3 fatty acids were associated with increased arsenic levels.
Researchers tracked elephant movement patterns in Kruger National Park, finding sharp changes at season thresholds. This approach offers a biologically relevant definition of seasons, distinct from arbitrary human-made boundaries.
Researchers found that geckos evolved sticky toepads repeatedly, with about 60% of species having adhesive pads. The study suggests that adhesive toepads arose independently 11 times and were lost nine times during gecko evolution.
Research in Namibia's grasslands reveals that 'fairy circles', circular bare spots surrounded by taller grass, exhibit a life cycle with varying life spans. The study finds that smaller circles are generally shorter-lived than larger ones, with life spans ranging from 24 to 75 years.
A systematic review published in BMC Medicine found that properly supervised residents' care is safe and of equal quality to that of fully trained doctors. Adequate supervision and evaluation are crucial for maintaining patient care, according to the study's lead author.
A new EEG test distinguishes between children with autism and neurotypical controls by analyzing brain connectivity. The test reveals reduced short-range connectivity in the left hemisphere, particularly in language regions, but increased long-distance connectivity as a compensatory mechanism.
Researchers found that male blue tits make fewer hunting trips to feed their brood if their mates have UV-reflecting crowns smeared with chemicals. However, they continue to protect and defend their chicks equally well as males with non-UV-treated females.
Children aged 8-10 years spent an average of just 4% of their day engaging in moderate to vigorous physical activity, falling short of the daily recommended amount. This early disparity highlights the need for interventions to encourage primary school children to become more physically active.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE found a significant association between traffic noise exposure and an increased risk of heart attacks. The research showed that every 10 decibels of noise above the threshold resulted in a 12% higher risk of myocardial infarction.
Researchers found that majority of Wikipedia pages are peaceful, but edit wars are waged between strongly disagreeing editors. Consensus is generally reached in a reasonable time, even for controversial articles, except in cases of never-ending wars with multiple active editors.
Male Cardiocondyla obscurior ants use chemical tagging to identify and kill younger rival males, ensuring colony survival. This behavior increases the chances of surviving fights against two-day-old males to 14%.
Researchers discovered a unique trapping mechanism in Nepenthes gracilis pitcher plants, where raindrops dislodge clinging ants, propelling them into the digestive cavity. This behavior allows for efficient capture of prey without manual intervention.
Researchers taught a robot to converse with humans as if it were a small child, enabling the robot to move from babbling to producing salient wordforms. This study may be useful for understanding language acquisition in humans.
A 25-year study in Northern Sweden found that a switch to low-carbohydrate diets after reducing fat intake led to an increase in cholesterol levels, indicating a higher cardiovascular risk. Despite initial success in reducing cholesterol levels through dietary changes, the population's BMI continued to rise over time.
Researchers found that parasitic plant Rafflesia cantleyi has 'stolen' genes from its host Tetrastigma rafflesiae, including those related to respiration and metabolism. This horizontal gene transfer has replaced the parasite's own gene activity in three-quarters of the cases.
Researchers have identified and characterized a new behavior in geckos and cockroaches, allowing them to run off ledges and execute a pendulum-like motion to swing underneath. This discovery has inspired the development of robots that can also perform this acrobatic move, with potential applications in search-and-rescue missions.
Research finds that maternal smoking disrupts retinoid pathways in the developing fetal lung, leading to increased risk of asthma and lung disease. The study shows that maternal smoking affects lung development and retinoic acid signaling in offspring, highlighting a potential mechanism for long-term health consequences.
Research finds that belief in God is associated with better theory of mind, a cognitive ability to understand others' thoughts and feelings. The study also explores the gender gap in religious belief, suggesting that women tend to be more religious than men due to differences in mentalizing abilities.
A study suggests that subaerial chemical weathering plays a more significant role in forming rock platforms along coasts and rivers than previously thought. The researchers found that the platforms correspond to the saprock-bedrock boundary, remain within the zone of modern water table, and are weakened by wet/dry cycling.
Researchers found that people can intuitively sense changes in body odor composition across the lifespan, with odors from older individuals being rated as less intense and less unpleasant. This ability is driven by specific chemical components, contrary to popular belief about old age odor.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that office bacteria are most abundant on chairs, phones, and human skin, with over 500 bacterial genera identified. The study also revealed that men's offices have significantly more bacteria than women's, but the diversity of communities didn't show significant differences.
A new study demonstrates that a back brace with a tiny heat sensor can measure how long it is worn, leading to improved compliance rates among children. The Thermobrace system shows promising results in tracking brace wear and fostering better patient-physician relationships.
Research on LRRK2 protein mutation G2019S reveals potential drawbacks of blocking its kinase activity. In a study published in Molecular Neurodegeneration, deleting the kinase domain of LRRK2 led to changes in motor coordination and anxiety-like behaviors in mice without affecting dopamine signaling.
A study published in EPJ Data Science found that words with positive emotional content are more frequently used in online communication, enhancing social relations and facilitating interaction. This positive bias is linked to the use of less informative words for emotional expression.
Research published in PLOS ONE found that warmer, drier conditions associated with El Niño led to higher mortality rates for leatherback turtle eggs and hatchlings. Climate models project that these conditions will become more common, threatening the already endangered species.
Researchers suggest that older-looking candidates may have an advantage in wartime elections due to implicit biases towards leaders who appear older and more dominant. The study found that altered images of Barack Obama and John McCain showed a preference for the older-looking version of each candidate.
Researchers used image analysis software to determine that octopuses reproduce specific features of objects in their surroundings for effective camouflage. This strategy may make the approach more flexible and increase success in different environments.
A new bright yellow frog species, Diasporus citrinobapheus, has been found in western Panama with a unique characteristic of dyeing its captor's fingers yellow when handled. The researchers studied the frog's body structure, coloration, and vocalizations to confirm its validity as a new species.
A new study published in Critical Care found that women are more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress after leaving an ICU, but a follow-up scheme has been shown to significantly reduce their symptoms. The study suggests that early intervention is crucial for women at high risk of PTSD.
Researchers found that carnivorous plants in symbiosis with ants produced larger leaves, increased nitrogen availability, and improved growth. The ants acted as the plant's 'gizzard', recycling nutrients from insects caught in the plant's traps.
Researchers at Auburn University have discovered a new species of trapdoor spider, named Myrmekiaphila tigris, in the heart of the city. The spider's unique features were confirmed through DNA analysis and physical examination, highlighting the biodiversity still unknown to scientists.
Research shows that earplugs can lower the incidence of confusion and delay cognitive disturbances in ICU patients. The use of earplugs resulted in better sleep quality, with a corresponding decrease in delirium risk by over 50%.
A survey of 4,000 US Ph.D. students found that interest in faculty positions wanes with more years in school, while non-academic careers become increasingly attractive. The study suggests a need for more information and resources about pursuing non-academic careers.
A study found that genetic variations in an odor receptor gene affect responses to cooked meat, shedding light on controversies surrounding androstenone content. Researchers investigated participants' responses to different pork samples, revealing a significant impact of the gene variant on taste perception.
A new study by the University of California Santa Barbara found that female brown-headed cowbirds prefer less intense wing-spreading displays as courtship behavior. This suggests that current physical condition may not be the most reliable measure of male quality for females to use when choosing a mate.
The study found that Chile's sandy beaches experienced lasting changes due to the earthquake and tsunami, with uplifted beaches showing rapid recolonization of intertidal species. The data provides insight into human-altered coastal landscapes, which could inform future projects.
Researchers have identified an ancestral Alu element in orangutan genomes, which has uniquely multiplied within the species. This discovery provides insights into primate evolution and diversity, with implications for understanding speciation processes.
A new bioluminescent real-time reporter (BART) technique combined with loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) detects genetically modified crops at 0.1% GM contamination levels, surpassing EU limits. This approach simplifies DNA extraction and detection, providing a field-ready solution for monitoring GMOs.
Researchers have identified two novel genetic loci, Hfhl1 and Hfhl3, that affect high-frequency hearing in ageing-related hearing loss. These loci are limited to specific portions of the hearing frequency map and may explain only a portion of the variation in high-frequency hearing loss observed in mice.