MDPI Articles Cited in the News: March 2025
This March, we look at the latest MDPI articles cited in the news, covering topics on behavioural science and research contributing to drug development for Alzheimer’s disease. We also explore a new study describing the discovery of a new reptile species while understanding how the architectural design of Notre Dame houses centuries of religious preaching rituals.
Feature paper
Published in Antioxidants: diAcCA, a Pro-Drug for Carnosic Acid That Activates the Nrf2 Transcriptional Pathway, Shows Efficacy in the 5xFAD Transgenic Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease
Cited by New York Post
Alzheimer’s disease is a deleterious ageing condition affecting millions of people worldwide. It is characterised by the presence of amyloid plaques, neurological dysfunction and cognitive decline.
A feature paper published in MDPI’s Open Access journal Antioxidants shows that a key antioxidant found in herbs like rosemary and sage improves symptoms of Alzheimer’s in mice. The paper illustrates the novel study in detail, where researchers developed a more stable synthetic version of the antioxidant, called di-acetylated carnosic acid, to test on transgenic mice that modelled Alzheimer’s disease.
In these mice, they found that treatment with the drug improved neural connections and reduced the presence of amyloid plaques—these are deposits found in patients with Alzheimer’s disease that disrupt brain function. The drug was also deemed to have low toxicity and could be suitable for future human clinical trials. The study’s findings are significant and add to researchers’ growing knowledge of the disease and the development of effective therapeutics.
Original Article
Published in Animals: Hidden Urban Biodiversity: A New Species of the Genus Scincella Mittleman, 1950 (Squamata: Scincidae) from Chengdu, Sichuan Province, Southwest China
Cited by The Herald
An exciting new study describes the discovery of a new species identified in the Sichuan Province of Southwest China. The researchers describe a species of reptile named Chengdunesis sp. nov. found in the urban and suburban areas of the city. In the study, the authors provide a genetic and phylogenetic analysis and a detailed description of the species’ anatomical characteristics. The presence of the species is an example of cryptic biodiversity, which means that the species shows little differences in morphology from other Scincella species, and differences were only revealed through genetic analysis.
Furthermore, the study highlights the underappreciated biodiversity within urban areas, emphasising the resilience of the natural world to thrive in unlikely spaces. The authors conclude the piece by stating the need for efficient policies and regulations that ensure the protection of wildlife within urban areas.
Original Article
Published in Behavioral Sciences: Who Is Afraid of Romantic Relationships? Relationship Fears and Their Connection with Personal Values and Socio-Demographic Variables
Cited by: Forbes
Romantic relationships are integral to forming intimate connections and fulfilling the basic human need of feeling safe and loved. However, people’s feelings surrounding romantic connection are complex, and often rooted in cultural, social, personal and religious perceptions of what romantic connection means. Romantic connetions are also influenced by past experiences, childhood and personality types.
A study published in Behavioral Sciences describes why some people may feel fear when it comes to romantic relationships and provides context-specific explanations.
As part of the study, psychologists asked a series of questions to a group of around 1000 young adults with no romantic partners, and identified 10 different basic fears clustered into three groups. This included things like loss of independence and boredom. It also included things like a fear of abuse or a fear of harming other relationships in one’s life.
The research reveals interesting insights into how people perceive romantic relationships differently, and how fear surrounding it is shaped by context-specific circumstances, such as culture, religion and individual backgrounds. Understanding this is beneficial to help young people create foundations for healthy romantic relationships in the future.
Original Article
Published in Heritage : History and Acoustics of Preaching in Notre-Dame de Paris
Cited by BBC Future
The Notre Dame, situated in Paris, France, is an iconic historical landmark that holds decades of cultural, social and religious significance. The building began construction in the late 1100s and was completed by 1270. Since then, the cathedral has undergone multiple adjustments and renovations, most notably after catching fire in April 2019.
The design and architecture of the building were initially formulated to reflect its use and function, particularly for the act of preaching. Before the modern invention of the microphone and sophisticated speaker systems, the acoustics of the cathedral were important to allow the spoken voice to carry throughout the building.
In a research article published in Heritage, researchers analysed the architectural integrity and acoustics of the prestigious building, and how the changes may have impacted key religious practices, such as choir singing and preaching. The study describes the generation of acoustic simulations, which allowed the researchers to predict the intelligibility and audibility of voices within the cathedral. The unique study provides readers and researchers with a fascinating insight into the marvellous design of Notre Dame and how it plays an important role in dictating its use and function in both the Middle Ages and the present day.
To learn more about exciting research highlighted by popular news outlets, see last month’s article where we discuss attachment patterns, the climate crisis and more. Alternatively, To read more research articles published in MDPI’s Open Access journals, see the full journal list:
