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Love Island: Flamboyant males get the girls on Madagascar

German scientists discovered two new species of rare giant stick insects in Madagascar's dry forests, with males exhibiting dazzling blue or multicolored armor. Genetic tests confirm the existence of two new species, challenging previous theories on stick insect evolution and raising questions about their reproductive strategies.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and Evolution·DateApr 2, 2019

Farming for natural profits in China

Researchers at Stanford University found that adopting diverse agricultural lands can provide flood control, water purification, and climate stabilization, while also doubling farmers' incomes. The 'Ecological Development Strategy' aims to support both economic growth and environmental health in rural regions like Hainan Island.

SourceStanford University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 1, 2019

Decision makers need contextual interactive guidance

A team of researchers developed an interactive program using trade-off diagrams to support decision-making in complex scenarios. The tool allows for compromises and balancing of competing interests, increasing decision quality with contextual information. However, interactivity also improves decision-making, but to a lesser extent.

LSU Health study reports continued PTSD in women exposed to deepwater horizon oil spill

A recent LSU Health study reports high levels of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among women exposed to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The research found that nearly half of these women did not receive mental health treatment in the past year, underscoring the need for better access to care.

SourceLouisiana State University Health Sciences Center·JournalJournal of Affective Disorders·DateMar 25, 2019

How heavy elements come about in the universe

A research team at Goethe University Frankfurt has successfully simulated the capture of protons by heavy elements in the universe. By using an ion storage ring, they were able to create conditions similar to those found in stellar explosions and neutron stars, allowing them to study the formation of heavy elements in detail.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMar 18, 2019

Artificial intelligence learns to predict elementary particle signals

Researchers from HSE and Yandex developed a method to speed up LHC simulation using Generative Adversarial Networks. The approach accurately predicts the behavior of charged elementary particles, enabling faster analysis of experimental data.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalNuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A Accelerators Spectrometers Detectors and Associated Equipment·DateMar 14, 2019

Subsidies for infection control to healthcare institutions help reduce infection levels

A dollar-for-dollar matching subsidy effectively reduces hospital-acquired infections, according to a study by CDDEP and Princeton University. The researchers found that subsidies should be given to hospitals with lower transmission rates to improve infection control for both facilities.

SourceCenter for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 12, 2019

Researchers find high blood pressure link

A recent study published in Hypertension Research found a significant association between early onset menstruation and high blood pressure in late adulthood. The research suggests that women with early menarche may have less optimal developed cardiovascular systems, increasing their risk for hypertension.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalHypertension Research·DateMar 7, 2019

Eating healthy on a limited budget is possible

A new study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior found that serving healthy meals to a family of four can be done for $25 per day, consistent with the USDA low-income cost of food meal plan. The study used menu planning and access to bulk supermarkets to achieve this cost.

SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of Nutrition Education and Behavior·DateMar 6, 2019

Bedtime protein for bigger gains? Here's the scoop

A study published in Frontiers in Nutrition found that consuming a casein shake just before overnight sleep increases muscle protein synthesis, leading to bigger squat and quad gains. This effect is thought to be due to increased total protein intake, not just the bedtime beverage.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Nutrition·DateMar 6, 2019

India's stubble burning air pollution causes USD 30 billion economic losses, health risks

A new study estimates that living in districts with intense crop residue burning increases the risk of acute respiratory infection three-fold among children. The study also found that crop burning causes an estimated USD 30 billion annual economic loss due to exposure to air pollution. Implementing targeted government initiatives can i...

SourceInternational Food Policy Research Institute·JournalInternational Journal of Epidemiology·DateMar 4, 2019

Biodiversity crisis: Technological advances in agriculture are not a sufficient response

A study by the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) finds that technological advances in agriculture are not sufficient to address biodiversity loss, which is driven by population and economic growth. The research highlights the need for policies addressing these factors to mitigate biodiversity decline.