Curated News: PLOS

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Released: 26-May-2023 1:00 PM EDT
Overfishing and degradation, causes of the decline of marine ecosystems in the South Atlantic Ocean in recent decades
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

The marine ecosystems of the South Atlantic Ocean have experienced a significant decline in recent decades due to overfishing and habitat degradation.

Newswise: Polar fish are less likely to die early, so they prioritize growth over reproduction
18-May-2023 12:00 PM EDT
Polar fish are less likely to die early, so they prioritize growth over reproduction
PLOS

Polar fish experience lower mortality than tropical fish, allowing them to delay reproduction until later in life when they are larger and can produce more eggs, according to a study by Mariana Álvarez-Noriega at Monash University in Australia and colleagues, publishing May 25th in the open access journal PLOS Biology.

Newswise: Decrease Oxygen to Boost Longevity?
Released: 24-May-2023 5:00 PM EDT
Decrease Oxygen to Boost Longevity?
Harvard Medical School

Living in a low-oxygen environment extended life spans, preserved neurologic function in mice.

23-May-2023 10:05 AM EDT
Increasing heat likely a major factor in human migration
PLOS

Rising temperatures due to climate change are likely influencing human migration patterns, according to a new study by Rita Issa of University College London and colleagues, published May 24 in the open-access journal PLOS Climate.

   
Newswise: Morning “larks” tend to be more religious than “night owls”, with links to conscientiousness and life satisfaction
17-May-2023 11:00 AM EDT
Morning “larks” tend to be more religious than “night owls”, with links to conscientiousness and life satisfaction
PLOS

A new analysis suggests that being religious may contribute to a previously established link between preferring to wake up early and having higher life satisfaction, and this relationship may, in turn, be influenced by a person’s level of conscientiousness.

Released: 22-May-2023 4:25 PM EDT
Public aware of and accept use of bacteria-killing viruses as alternative to antibiotics, study shows
University of Exeter

The public are in favour of the development of bacteria-killing viruses as an alternative to antibiotics – and more efforts to educate will make them significantly more likely to use the treatment, a new study shows.

Released: 18-May-2023 7:40 PM EDT
Rising rates of induced labor need to be reconsidered in the context of the UK maternity services staffing crisis, study suggests
City University London

A new study suggests that increasing rates of induction of labour (IOL) of pregnant women and people in the UK, without considering the accompanying, real-world impact on staffing workloads and patient care, may have unintended consequences.

Newswise: In schools, masks and air cleaners were associated with stopping COVID-19
11-May-2023 11:35 AM EDT
In schools, masks and air cleaners were associated with stopping COVID-19
PLOS

A new study shows that masking and portable air cleaners reduced the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 in two Swiss schools.

Newswise: Good news reports may emotionally buffer effects of negative news stories
12-May-2023 11:20 AM EDT
Good news reports may emotionally buffer effects of negative news stories
PLOS

People who saw news about human kindness after consuming news about a terrorist attack or other immoral acts felt fewer negative emotions and retained more belief in the goodness of humanity compared to people given just the bad news, according to a study published May 17, 2023 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Kathryn Buchanan from the University of Essex, and colleague Gillian Sandstrom from the University of Sussex, UK.

16-May-2023 11:00 AM EDT
A potential new weapon in the war against superbugs
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

For nearly 25 years, Dr. James Kirby has worked to advance the fight against infectious diseases by finding and developing new, potent antimicrobials, and by better understanding how disease-causing bacteria make us sick. In a recent paper published in PLOS Biology, Kirby and colleagues investigated a naturally occurring antimicrobial agent discovered more than 80 years ago.

Newswise: Neglected 80-year-old antibiotic is effective against multi-drug resistant bacteria
9-May-2023 11:20 AM EDT
Neglected 80-year-old antibiotic is effective against multi-drug resistant bacteria
PLOS

An old antibiotic may provide much-needed protection against multi-drug resistant bacterial infections, according to a new study publishing May 16th in the open access journal PLOS Biology by James Kirby of Harvard Medical School, US, and colleagues.

Newswise: Crushed Clams, Roaming Rays: Acoustic Tags Reveal Predator Interactions
Released: 15-May-2023 8:30 AM EDT
Crushed Clams, Roaming Rays: Acoustic Tags Reveal Predator Interactions
Florida Atlantic University

Inspired by clam fishermen reports, researchers used passive acoustic telemetry to gauge the interactions between two highly mobile rays. They monitored the tagged rays in the wild over two years to see how often and when they visited clam leases. Results provide both good news and bad news for clammers. Rays spent even more time in these clam lease sites than clammers reported or suspected, but it’s not necessarily where they prefer hanging out.

Released: 12-May-2023 3:25 PM EDT
New research links changes in land use to water quality and quantity
University of Massachusetts Amherst

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst recently published a study in the journal PLOS Water that focuses on the Sudbury-Assabet and Concord watershed in eastern Massachusetts, and which links hydrological changes, including floods, drought and runoff, to changing patterns of land use.

Newswise: Interactions between gut bacteria may limit antibiotics’ efficacy against C. difficile
4-May-2023 1:10 PM EDT
Interactions between gut bacteria may limit antibiotics’ efficacy against C. difficile
PLOS

A study publishing May 11th in PLOS Biology by Ophelia Venturelli at University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, and colleagues suggests that between-species interactions within the gut microbiome may impact the efficacy of antibiotics aimed at treating C. difficile infections.

Newswise: When A.I. discloses personal information, users may empathize more
3-May-2023 12:20 PM EDT
When A.I. discloses personal information, users may empathize more
PLOS

In a new study, participants showed more empathy for an online anthropomorphic artificial intelligence (A.I.) agent when it seemed to disclose personal information about itself while chatting with participants.

Released: 9-May-2023 3:05 PM EDT
Not all statins are created equal
Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University

We’ve all recently gotten a crash-course in drug repurposing, thanks to near-daily news reports about efforts to identify existing medicines that could help treat COVID-19 in the early phase of the pandemic.

Released: 9-May-2023 1:25 PM EDT
New research sheds light on how human vision perceives scale
Aston University

The study, published on 8 May in the journal PLOS ONE, explored the computational mechanisms used by the human brain to perceive the size of objects in the world around us.

Released: 8-May-2023 4:50 PM EDT
The ability to chew properly may improve blood sugar levels in patients with Type 2 diabetes
University at Buffalo

If you’re a health care provider treating people with Type 2 diabetes (T2D), University at Buffalo researcher Mehmet A. Eskan has this suggestion for you: check your patients’ teeth.

Newswise:Video Embedded map-reveals-ancient-australian-landscape-from-60-000-years-ago
VIDEO
Released: 5-May-2023 11:15 AM EDT
Archaeologists map hidden NT landscape where first Australians lived more than 60,000 years ago
Flinders University

Scientists at Flinders University have used sub-surface imaging and aerial surveys to see through floodplains in the Red Lily Lagoon area of West Arnhem Land in Northern Australia.

Newswise: Converging ocean currents bring floating life and garbage together
28-Apr-2023 2:10 PM EDT
Converging ocean currents bring floating life and garbage together
PLOS

The North Pacific “Garbage Patch” is home to an abundance of floating sea creatures, as well as the plastic waste it has become famous for, according to a study by Rebecca Helm from Georgetown University, US, and colleagues, publishing May 4th in the open access journal PLOS Biology.

Newswise: Oldest human remains in Puerto Rico expand knowledge of island’s roots
Released: 2-May-2023 10:35 AM EDT
Oldest human remains in Puerto Rico expand knowledge of island’s roots
University of Miami

The remains from the Ortiz site, Puerto Rico’s oldest burial ground, were carefully analyzed by a University of Miami bioarcheologist and an undergraduate student researcher, revealing cultural insights from thousands of years ago.

Released: 25-Apr-2023 10:05 AM EDT
Researchers Identify a New Genetic Culprit in Canine Bladder Cancers
North Carolina State University

Researchers have identified new genetic mutations linked to a subset of canine bladder cancers. Their findings have implications both for early cancer detection and for targeted treatments in dogs and humans.

Released: 24-Apr-2023 6:05 PM EDT
No need to load up on extracurricular activities, study finds
Ohio State University

While some ambitious high school students may load up on extracurricular activities to help them get into college, a new study suggests they may be trying too hard.

Newswise: An extra gene increases inhibitory signaling in the brain of the Down syndrome mouse
13-Apr-2023 2:10 PM EDT
An extra gene increases inhibitory signaling in the brain of the Down syndrome mouse
PLOS

An extra copy of a gene that controls synapse formation in the cortex causes excessive inhibitory signaling and may contribute to Down syndrome, according to a new study publishing April 20th in the open access journal PLOS Biology by Bing Ye of the University of Michigan, US, and colleagues.

   
Released: 20-Apr-2023 11:05 AM EDT
A New Method to Test Cancer Drug Toxicity
Tufts University

A new study from researchers at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University and Tufts Medical Center reports that heart tissue obtained through organ donations from dogs dying of other causes are a promising platform for testing cancer drug toxicity, offering scientists a new alternative.

Newswise:Video Embedded climate-change-may-keep-india-from-achieving-its-sustainable-development-goals
VIDEO
13-Apr-2023 12:45 PM EDT
Climate change may keep India from achieving its sustainable development goals
PLOS

Heatwaves in India are increasing in frequency, intensity and lethality, burdening public health, agriculture, and other socio-economic and cultural systems. A study published in PLOS Climate by Ramit Debnath at University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom and colleagues suggests that heatwaves made more likely by climate change may impede India’s progress toward its sustainable development goals.

Newswise: Large animals travel more slowly because they can’t keep cool
11-Apr-2023 12:25 PM EDT
Large animals travel more slowly because they can’t keep cool
PLOS

Whether an animal is flying, running or swimming, its traveling speed is limited by how effectively it sheds the excess heat generated by its muscles, according to a new study led by Alexander Dyer from the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) and the Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany published April 18th in the open access journal PLOS Biology.

Newswise: Oldest bat skeletons ever found described from Wyoming fossils
Released: 13-Apr-2023 3:15 PM EDT
Oldest bat skeletons ever found described from Wyoming fossils
American Museum of Natural History

Scientists have described a new species of bat based on the oldest bat skeletons ever recovered. The study on the extinct bat, which lived in Wyoming about 52 million years ago, supports the idea that bats diversified rapidly on multiple continents during this time.

Newswise: Research Reveals THC Concentration in Colorado Retail Cannabis Products is Lower than Advertised
Released: 12-Apr-2023 4:50 PM EDT
Research Reveals THC Concentration in Colorado Retail Cannabis Products is Lower than Advertised
University of Northern Colorado

While legal cannabis products in the United States are required to report THC potency levels on their packaging those levels aren't necessarily accurate, which can have important implications for cannabis consumers. According to a new study from the University of Northern Colorado’s Department of Biological Sciences, researchers Mitchell McGlaughlin and Anna Schwabe found that the THC potency values reported on the packaging of cannabis samples from dispensaries across Colorado’s Front Range are substantially over-reported.

Newswise: Decoding Insomnia: Machine learning model predicts sleep disorders from patient records
5-Apr-2023 10:40 AM EDT
Decoding Insomnia: Machine learning model predicts sleep disorders from patient records
PLOS

A machine learning model can effectively predict a patient’s risk for a sleep disorder using demographic and lifestyle data, physical exam results and laboratory values, according to a new study published this week in the open-access journal PLOS ONE.

Newswise: Genomic surveillance identifies global strain of emerging wheat disease fungus
4-Apr-2023 1:55 PM EDT
Genomic surveillance identifies global strain of emerging wheat disease fungus
PLOS

Pests and diseases may reduce global wheat yields by over 20%. A study published April 11th in the open access journal PLOS Biology by Sergio Latorre at University College London, UK and colleagues suggest that genomic surveillance may be an effective disease management tool with the ability to trace lineages of emerging crop diseases, and to identify genetic traits for breeding disease-resistant lines.

Newswise: Early crop plants were more easily ‘tamed’
Released: 10-Apr-2023 7:05 AM EDT
Early crop plants were more easily ‘tamed’
Washington University in St. Louis

Plants are capable of responding to people and have behaviors comparable to tameness, according to authors of new research that calls for a reappraisal of the process of plant domestication, based on almost a decade of observations and experiments.

Released: 5-Apr-2023 7:20 PM EDT
Most existing methods to tackle conspiracy beliefs are ineffective, study finds
University College Cork

A new review of methods for reducing conspiracy beliefs has shown that most methods are ineffective, but that those focused on fostering critical thinking or an analytical mindset show some promise.

Released: 5-Apr-2023 3:55 PM EDT
MSU study confirms: 1 in 5 adults don’t want children –– and they don’t regret it later
Michigan State University

Last summer, researchers at Michigan State University reported that one in five Michigan adults, or about 1.7 million people, don’t want children and therefore are child-free. Although that number was surprisingly large to many data has now been confirmed in a follow-up study.

Released: 5-Apr-2023 12:05 PM EDT
Teens who trust online information find it less stressful
Cornell University

Teens’ trust in the news they consume on social media – or lack of it – may be key to whether it supports or detracts from their well-being, according to Cornell-led psychology research.

   
Released: 4-Apr-2023 11:15 AM EDT
Mosquito saliva can weaken body’s defenses against deadly dengue viruses, scientists discover
University of Virginia Health System

The saliva of mosquitoes infected with dengue viruses contains a substance that thwarts the human immune system and makes it easier for people to become infected with these potentially deadly viruses, new research reveals.

Newswise: Harnessing nature to promote planetary sustainability
Released: 3-Apr-2023 5:25 PM EDT
Harnessing nature to promote planetary sustainability
PLOS

As Earth’s population grows, the demands of modern lifestyles place mounting strain on the global environment. Proposed solutions to preserve and promote planetary sustainability can sometimes prove more harmful than helpful. However, technologies that harness natural processes could be more successful.

Released: 31-Mar-2023 5:45 PM EDT
Academic institutions receive lower financial returns from biotechnology licenses than commercial firms
Bentley University

The financial terms of biotechnology licenses from academic institutions are significantly less favorable than those of comparable licenses between commercial firms according to a new study from Bentley University’s Center for Integration of Science and Industry.

Released: 30-Mar-2023 7:05 PM EDT
Increasing availability of non-alcoholic drinks may reduce amount of alcohol purchased online
University of Cambridge

Increasing the proportion of non-alcoholic drinks on sale in online supermarkets could reduce the amount of alcohol people purchase, suggests a study published today led by researchers at the University of Cambridge.

   
Newswise: Fluid flow in the brain can be manipulated by sensory stimulation
23-Mar-2023 2:20 PM EDT
Fluid flow in the brain can be manipulated by sensory stimulation
PLOS

Researchers at Boston University, USA report that the flow of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain is linked to waking brain activity.

Released: 29-Mar-2023 7:45 PM EDT
The COVID-19 pandemic has increased – but also polarised – trust in science
University of Bath

Research by the Milner Centre for Evolution at the University of Bath, UK, along with colleagues at Universities of Oxford and Aberdeen, finds that trust in scientists has hugely increased overall since the COVID-19 pandemic, but that attitudes have also become more polarized. The study also found that people were more likely to take the COVID-19 vaccine if their trust in the science had increased.

   
Newswise: Stereotypes about senior employees lead to premature retirements
Released: 29-Mar-2023 7:35 PM EDT
Stereotypes about senior employees lead to premature retirements
University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Humanities

Unproductive, inflexible, and less motivated... these are some of the most common stereotypes about senior employees. Even though the stereotypes are usually unfounded, they nevertheless influence how senior employees perceive themselves and their status in the workplace.

Released: 29-Mar-2023 7:25 PM EDT
Earth prefers to serve life in XXS and XXL sizes
University of British Columbia

Life comes in all shapes in sizes, but some sizes are more popular than others, new research from the University of British Columbia has found.

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This news release is embargoed until 29-Mar-2023 2:00 PM EDT Released to reporters: 28-Mar-2023 1:50 PM EDT

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Newswise: Living with pet cats or dogs is associated with fewer food allergies in young children
22-Mar-2023 3:00 PM EDT
Living with pet cats or dogs is associated with fewer food allergies in young children
PLOS

In an analysis of over 65,000 infants from Japan, children exposed to pet cats or indoor dogs during fetal development or early infancy tended to have fewer food allergies compared to other children.

Newswise: Eye color genes are critical for retinal health
Released: 24-Mar-2023 3:40 PM EDT
Eye color genes are critical for retinal health
Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics

Metabolic pathways consist of a series of biochemical reactions in cells that convert a starting component into other products. There is growing evidence that metabolic pathways coupled with external stress factors influence the health of cells and tissues.



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