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Most surgical residents want personal financial education offered during medical training

A study found that most surgical residents have high risk debt-to-asset and debt-to-income ratios, and many feel the need for personal financial education. The researchers suggest providing financial training through accessible platforms like podcasts or web-based tools to help residents manage their debt.

SourceAmerican College of Surgeons·JournalJournal of the American College of Surgeons·DateMay 31, 2018

Goal conflict linked to psychological distress

Research at the University of Exeter and Edith Cowan University found that goal conflict and ambivalence are associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression. The study involved over 200 young adults aged 18-35, who reported experiencing psychological distress due to conflicting goals.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalPersonality and Individual Differences·DateMay 25, 2018

In helping smokers quit, cash is king, e-cigarettes strike out

A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that financial incentives significantly improve smoking cessation rates, with free e-cigarettes and cessation aids offering no additional benefit. The study enrolled over 6,000 participants and found that those receiving financial rewards remained smoke-free for at leas...

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateMay 23, 2018

Lead exposure found to affect fertility rates

A new study by Carnegie Mellon University researchers found that exposure to lead in the air and topsoil is associated with lower fertility rates among US women and men. The study analyzed data from the 1970s to 2000s and found that reduced airborne lead levels boosted fertility, while higher levels of lead in soil decreased it.

How wheat can root out the take-all fungus

A team of scientists from Rothamsted Research has found that certain commercial cereal varieties can support beneficial fungi that suppress the take-all fungus, a devastating disease in wheat crops worldwide. This could provide a potential biological management strategy to control the disease.

SourceRothamsted Research·JournalJournal of Experimental Botany·DateMay 22, 2018

One year's losses for child sexual abuse in US top $9 billion, new study suggests

A new study finds that child sexual abuse has a profound economic impact on the US, with estimated annual costs of $9.3 billion and lifetime costs per victim ranging from nearly $200,000 for nonfatal abuse to over $1 million for fatal cases. The study's authors hope to inspire policymakers to invest in prevention efforts.

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalChild Abuse & Neglect·DateMay 21, 2018

Effective methods for automated design of complex technical objects and systems

Researchers at Lobachevsky University have proposed a two-fold approach to overcome the computational complexity of multicriteria problems. By re-using search information and using effective global search algorithms, they aim to find multiple compromise options that cannot be improved simultaneously with respect to all partial criteria.

SourceLobachevsky University·JournalJournal of Global Optimization·DateMay 18, 2018

Where GM meets GE

Rothamsted Research will conduct a field trial of genome-edited (GE) Camelina, a genetically modified crop that accumulates omega-3 fatty acids, alongside a traditional GM version. The trials aim to investigate the efficiency of genetic engineering in developing plants with desired traits, such as improved nutrition and sustainability.

Riding bacterium to the bank

Sandia National Laboratories scientists have engineered E. coli to efficiently convert tough plant matter called lignin into valuable platform chemicals. This breakthrough solves three problems: cost, toxicity and speed, paving the way for economically viable biofuel production from renewable sources.

SourceDOE/Sandia National Laboratories·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 17, 2018

Recent trends of marriage in Iran

Declining formal marriages in Iran may be attributed to economic factors and changing attitudes towards marriage, according to recent studies. Researchers have linked the trend to a lack of well-paid jobs and high housing costs, suggesting complementary explanations for the shift.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalThe Open Family Studies Journal·DateMay 16, 2018

Prized data, free and open to all

The electronic Rothamsted Archive provides long-term series of data on yields, weather, and soil analyses, relevant for sustainable agriculture, agroecology, and food security. Users have access to supporting specialist background information and are fully supported by the curating team.

SourceRothamsted Research·JournalScientific Data·DateMay 15, 2018

Lifting the economy on hawks' wings

A new study measures regional job creation due to native predators' regulating services, finding that American kestrels can save farmers up to $357 of cherries per dollar spent on nest boxes. Building these boxes is estimated to generate 46 to 50 jobs and over $2 million in increased revenue for Michigan's economy.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalJournal of Applied Ecology·DateMay 15, 2018

Treatment for MRSA no longer more costly than for susceptible Staph aureus infections

Researchers analyzed national hospitalization data from 2010-2014 and found that MRSA-related hospitalization costs were approximately the same as or less expensive than hospitalizations with MSSA infections. However, patients with MRSA infections had a greater likelihood of mortality than those with MSSA.

SourceCenter for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy·JournalClinical Infectious Diseases·DateMay 14, 2018

Gender discrimination results in the deaths of extra 239,000 girls per year in India

A new study reveals that India experiences an average of 239,000 excess female child mortality annually, primarily in rural areas with lower education and socioeconomic development. The researchers argue that addressing gender discrimination is crucial to reducing mortality rates among girls under five.

SourceInternational Institute for Applied Systems Analysis·JournalThe Lancet Global Health·DateMay 14, 2018

Uncertainty in long-run economic growth likely points toward greater emissions, climate change costs

Researchers found substantially higher uncertainty than assumed in current climate change studies, with a median per capita output growth rate of 2.03% per year. This new understanding of uncertainty will affect policy planning globally.

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 14, 2018

The true 'value' of biodiversity

A study published in Scientific Reports found that focusing solely on a species' rarity or economic impact can lead to an underestimation of its true value. Considering multiple values, such as cultural significance and economic importance, reveals that every species plays a crucial role in society.

SourceNewcastle University·JournalScientific Reports·DateMay 3, 2018