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Study explores risk factors linked to chikungunya and dengue outbreaks

A large-scale study of chikungunya and dengue outbreaks over 50 years revealed that population density and neighboring outbreak countries are key risk factors for new outbreaks. The research suggests focusing resources on densely populated areas near existing outbreaks to mitigate the spread of these mosquito-borne diseases.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalSpatial and Spatio-temporal Epidemiology·DateJul 24, 2018

Study finds Medicaid expansion boosts employment

A new study from the University of Kansas found that individuals with disabilities are significantly more likely to be employed in states with expanded Medicaid coverage. In these states, the percentage of individuals with disabilities reporting employment or self-employment increased from 41.3% in 2013 to 47% in 2017, while those not ...

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateJul 19, 2018

New training platform for big data analysis

A new online training platform is being developed to address the lack of bioinformatics and statistics knowledge among researchers in the life sciences. The Galaxy Europe project aims to provide interactive tutorials using real datasets, aiming to improve data science methods use.

SourceUniversity of Freiburg·JournalCell Systems·DateJul 19, 2018

Antioxidant benefits of sleep

Researchers found that short-sleeping fruit fly mutants are sensitive to acute oxidative stress, supporting the idea that sleep defends against oxidative damage. The study suggests a bi-directional relationship between sleep and oxidative stress, with sleep helping to reduce oxidative stress and vice versa.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateJul 12, 2018

Voters do not always walk the talk when it comes to infidelity

An analysis of Ashley Madison user data found that conservative voters were more likely to use an adultery dating website, while liberal Democrats were least likely. The study, published in Springer's Archives of Sexual Behavior, suggests a discrepancy between reported and actual behavior on sexual matters.

SourceSpringer·JournalArchives of Sexual Behavior·DateJul 12, 2018

Narwhals' acoustic behavior described using audio tagging

Researchers recorded narwhals in East Greenland, capturing six hours of audio that revealed three types of sounds: clicks, buzzes, and calls. The study found that narwhals produce buzzes at greater depths than clicks, and that a particular fjord had high buzzing rates, suggesting a preferred feeding area.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJun 13, 2018

Political tension during the 2016 US Election cut many Thanksgiving dinners short

A study found that households with opposing political views spent significantly less time at the Thanksgiving table in 2016. Political tension exacerbated this effect, particularly for those exposed to high amounts of advertising. Overall, partisan differences cost Americans 73.6 million hours spent interacting during Thanksgiving.

Understanding Andean concepts of death and renewal

The study reveals a stunning relation between ceremonial sites and cemeteries, underpinning complex Andean concepts of death and renewal. It was discovered that the site's features can be related to the surrounding landscape, highlighting the importance of Kipia as a local huaca.

SourceDe Gruyter·JournalOpen Archaeology·DateMay 15, 2018

River dolphins are declining steeply in the Amazon basin

Populations of freshwater dolphins in the Amazon basin are declining rapidly, with both boto and tucuxi species facing severe decline rates. The study reveals that these species would be classified as Critically Endangered under IUCN Red List criteria if current trends continue.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMay 2, 2018

Alcohol intake may be linked to premenstrual syndrome

A pooled analysis of published study data suggests that around 11% of PMS cases may be associated with alcohol intake globally. Heavy drinking is estimated to increase the risk by 79%, with potential biological explanations including altered sex steroid hormone levels and serotonin production.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalBMJ Open·DateApr 23, 2018