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Consumer markets, companies linked to habitat loss for rare species in Brazil's savannah

A new study links global consumer markets to habitat loss for rare species in the Cerrado savannah, finding that over half of the impact is attributed to food and products consumed outside Brazil. The study reveals specific links between consumer countries, traders, soy production, and habitat loss.

SourceStockholm Environment Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 28, 2019

Food markets near Ethiopia's poor provide fewer choices at high price, impacting child health

A new study from IFPRI found that rural poor in Ethiopia tend to live near lower-quality markets with fewer food groups sold at high prices. This limits children's access to non-staple foods, leading to poor diets. The study highlights the importance of improving access to high-quality markets for better child nutrition.

SourceInternational Food Policy Research Institute·JournalAmerican Journal of Agricultural Economics·DateOct 24, 2019

Making conservation 'contagious'

A study by University of Queensland researchers found that most conservation initiatives follow a slow-fast-slow model, where adoption is slow initially but grows quickly as early adopters connect with potential adopters. The research aims to help designers create initiatives that reach scale and have a lasting impact on biodiversity.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalNature Sustainability·DateOct 15, 2019

Negative posts on Facebook business pages outweigh positive posts 2 to 1

Research found that negative posts receive more comments than positive ones and tend to attract more attention, highlighting the need for companies to respond to negative content strategically. The study analyzed data from 12,000 posts from Fortune 500 companies, finding a nearly 2:1 ratio of negative to positive posts on business pages.

SourceInstitute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences·JournalInformation Systems Research·DateSep 13, 2019

Does cable news shape your views?

A new MIT study finds that partisan news coverage has a bigger impact on viewers without strong media preferences, while those with strong preferences may be less influenced. The study suggests that certain types of political media affect different populations in varying manners.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalAmerican Political Science Review·DateAug 8, 2019

A hog in wolf's clothing

A new study examines the effects of feral hogs and elephants on livestock, finding significant impacts on farming livelihoods. The research highlights the importance of considering non-carnivore species in mitigating wildlife impacts, with potential consequences for conservation efforts.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateAug 6, 2019

Dartmouth study examines association between care management and outcomes in Medicare ACOs

A new study from The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice found that care management and coordination activities in Medicare Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) were not associated with improved outcomes or lower spending for patients with complex medical and social needs. Researchers analyzed data from over 1....

SourceThe Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateJul 12, 2019

Simple scan could direct treatments for angina

A 40-minute MRI scan has been shown to guide treatment decisions for patients with angina, resulting in fewer hospital stays and procedures. The MR-INFORM trial found similar patient outcomes between those who received the standard invasive angiography and those whose treatment was dictated by their MRI scan.

Shedding light on the key determinants of global land use projections

A new study by an international research group has identified the main drivers of global land use projections, revealing that population growth, agricultural efficiency, and consumption changes are key factors. The findings suggest that increasing agricultural productivity, enforcing efficient land use protection, and shifting diets to...