Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive April 2018 - Page 19


Page 19 of 42

Practices with poor prescribing performance more likely to prescribe homeopathy

A study by researchers at the University of Oxford and Exeter University found that general practices in England with the worst prescribing quality scores are 2.1 times more likely to prescribe homeopathy than those with the best scores. Poor prescribing performance is strongly associated with homeopathy use, but not with patient outco...

SourceSAGE·JournalJournal of the Royal Society of Medicine·DateApr 18, 2018

Safety measures could save 250,000 lives a year in low- and middle-income countries

A new study from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health identified 11 safety measures that could potentially save over 250,000 lives annually in low- and middle-income countries. These interventions include speeding enforcement, formal swimming lessons for young children, and crèches to supervise young children.

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalThe Lancet Global Health·DateApr 18, 2018

ACP calls for a 'time out' to assess and revise approach to performance measurement

The American College of Physicians is calling for a revised approach to performance measurement, citing 32 valid and 30 invalid measures in Medicare's MIPS program. The ACP analyzed 86 performance measures and found that many were inadequately specified, leading to misclassification of high-quality care as low-quality care.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateApr 18, 2018

Portable device to sniff out trapped humans

Scientists have developed a portable sensor array that can detect tiny amounts of chemicals emitted by humans, even at levels as low as three parts per billion. The device is light, affordable, and compact, making it ideal for first responders to carry or drones to use in search and rescue operations.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalAnalytical Chemistry·DateApr 18, 2018

Management of mitral regurgitation in a patient contemplating pregnancy

Researchers highlight unique challenges of managing mitral regurgitation in women contemplating pregnancy, emphasizing clinical assessment and echocardiography as critical tools. Surgical intervention is recommended for symptomatic patients and those with progressive left ventricular dilation or low ejection fraction.

SourceCardiovascular Innovations and Applications·JournalCardiovascular Innovations and Applications·DateApr 18, 2018

New research shows Transcendental Meditation empowers disadvantaged Ugandan mothers

A study published in Health Care for Women International found that Transcendental Meditation significantly improves the lives of single, illiterate mothers in Uganda by reducing stress and improving their health and ability to support themselves and their children. The research shows that the practice empowers these women to overcome ...

SourceMaharishi International University·JournalHealth Care For Women International·DateApr 18, 2018

Siblings' experiences in middle childhood predict differences in college graduation status

A longitudinal study found that siblings' experiences in middle childhood, including warmth, father-child interaction, and perceptions of fairness, predicted differences in their college graduation status. The study highlights the importance of parents' involvement and treatment in shaping their children's educational outcomes.

SourceSociety for Research in Child Development·JournalChild Development·DateApr 17, 2018

Can we tell black holes apart?

Astronomers used computer simulations to create images of accreting supermassive black holes in different gravity theories. They found that even highly non-Einsteinian black holes could mimic the appearance of standard black holes, highlighting the need for new techniques to distinguish them.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalNature Astronomy·DateApr 17, 2018

Kids hit hard by junk food advertising: New research

A new study found that children are exposed to over 800 junk food ads per year, with unhealthy food ads being 2.3 times more frequent than healthy food ads during peak viewing times. The research, led by the University of Adelaide, used a bespoke TV monitoring system to capture an entire year's worth of television and ads.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalJournal of Paediatrics and Child Health·DateApr 17, 2018

The 'bread basket' of the tropics? Study explores tropical grain production

In Mato Grosso, Brazil, researchers found that large-scale farms produce high yields of soybean and maize using succession farming, also known as safrinha. The study shows that while technology adoption rates are low, successive cropping systems improve productivity without relying on high-tech solutions.

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalInternational Journal of Agricultural Management·DateApr 17, 2018

Student teams compete to create equity portfolios with analytics and operations research

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem team won the second annual O.R. & Analytics Student Team Competition by successfully applying analytics and operations research to create a high-performing equity portfolio. The competition challenges students to develop solutions to real-world problems, providing valuable experience that sets them ap...

Marine fish won an evolutionary lottery 66 million years ago, UCLA biologists report

A UCLA-led team of biologists reports that a six-mile-wide asteroid crash 66 million years ago created an enormous evolutionary void for marine fish to diversify. Today's rich biodiversity among marine fish shows the fingerprints of this mass extinction, with six major acanthomorph groups producing almost all marine fish diversity.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateApr 17, 2018

Honeybees are struggling to get enough good bacteria

A new study suggests that human changes to the landscape, such as monoculture farming and forestry, are affecting honeybees' long-term food supply. The diversity of bacteria associated with bee bread, a crucial food source for young bees, is lower in hives near agriculturally improved grasslands and coniferous forests.

SourceLancaster University·JournalEcology and Evolution·DateApr 17, 2018

Study finds high rates of type 1 diabetes near food swamps

A study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of the Endocrine Society finds higher rates of type 1 diabetes in areas with a high proportion of fast food restaurants and convenience stores. The research suggests that an adverse food environment may contribute to the development of type 1 diabetes, particularly among adults.

SourceThe Endocrine Society·JournalJournal of the Endocrine Society·DateApr 17, 2018