Behind the Paper
The real stories behind the latest research papers, from conception to publication, the highs and the lows
Cities as Melting Pots: What We Learned Studying 200,000 Daily Journeys
Cities are about encounters and exposure to differences. If we want inclusive and equitable cities, we need to understand — and design for — the patterns of mixing that shape everyday life.
When a vitamin A metabolite puts the brakes on virus-driven inflammation
In severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus infection, systemic inflammation is associated with depletion of all-trans retinoic acid. Our study shows that restoring this metabolite restrains AP-1-driven cytokine production through an RXRα–PPARγ–c-Jun axis in macrophages.
The race to stay cool: Butterflies are climbing mountains instead of adapting to climate change
Differences in size, colour, and thermoregulation determine which butterfly species are most vulnerable to climate change, and which are moving uphill in search of cooler temperatures.
Blood Thinners, Blind Spots: What 687 Nigerian Health Workers Taught Us About a Life-Saving Medicine
Oral anticoagulants (OACs) are essential for managing thromboembolic disorders. Good knowledge, attitude, and practice of healthcare professionals (HCPs) can ensure the safe and effective use of OACs. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and practice of OACs by HCPs in Nigeria.
"I Took the Pill, It Still Hurt": When Period Pain Medication Just Doesn't Work
Dysmenorrhea is common among young women. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the first-line treatment but some women get little relief despite proper use. This study measured how common NSAID-resistant dysmenorrhea is among Nigerian female undergraduates and identified its predictors.
"I'd Rather Just Push Through It": Why So Many Young Women Avoid Period Pain Medication
Dysmenorrhea is a prevalent condition among women of reproductive age, yet many experience medication hesitancy. This study assessed the prevalence, perception, reasons, alternative treatment practices, and predictors in dysmenorrhea management among Nigerian female undergraduates.
Willing, But Boxed In: What 383 Nigerian Pharmacists Told Us About Preventing Disease Before It Starts
Pharmacists, as accessible healthcare providers, are well-positioned to promote health and prevent diseases, but their potential remains underutilized. Our study assessed pharmacists’ health promotion strategies, identified predictors of behaviours, and examined challenges affecting implementation.
Before the First Word: How the Infant Brain Prepares for Speech
Using longitudinal diffusion MRI, we analyzed 33 white-matter pathways from 2 weeks to 24 months. Speech development was not confined to auditory or language tracts: tracts and early skills followed different timelines and showed distributed links, revealing first word as a multisystem achievement.
Advancing the detection of hidden awareness following severe brain injury Introduction
Severe brain injury can leave a person unable to speak or move, making it difficult to know how aware they are of what is happening around them. Our study tested whether a structured, multi-phase brain-computer interface could detect hidden awareness more effectively than behaviour alone.
