Articles tagged with Famines
The BMJ publishes a debate article on whether a dedicated tax is needed to fund the NHS, with proponents arguing it would reflect public wishes and provide welcome certainty. Critics, however, believe a hypothecated tax would not protect funding from economic uncertainty and that simpler solutions exist.
A study by NC State researchers analyzed 183 phytophthora infestans samples from across the globe to track the pathogen's movement. FAM-1 lineage was found in US, Europe, and Colombia, suggesting a South American origin. The pathogen has caused massive disease outbreaks worldwide, with billions spent annually on control measures.
A study of over 3,000 families affected by mid-20th Century China's widespread starvation found that prenatal famine exposure was associated with significantly higher odds of hyperglycemia and type 2 diabetes in both the mother and her children. The risk persisted even when only one parent had been exposed to famine.
Repeated dieting can cause weight gain as the brain interprets diets as short famines and urges people to store more fat for future shortages. This phenomenon, known as yo-yo dieting, may explain why people struggle to keep weight off after trying low-calorie diets.
The 1430s were one of a kind, with extremely cold winters and normal to warm summers, resulting in food production failures, rising prices, subsistence crisis, and increased mortality rates. The study suggests that natural factors caused the climate anomaly, which had significant impacts on European societies.
Researchers found nearly all common obesity-related genes lack properties that suggest an evolutionary advantage, contradicting the 'thrifty gene' hypothesis. The study's results suggest a more complex evolution of human health and disease.
Researchers analyzed teeth of 20 Kilkenny Union workhouse residents, finding prolonged nutritional stress due to famine during childhood. The study suggests that incremental dentine collagen isotope analysis may identify periods of physiological stress like famine in adult and juvenile skeletons.
Researchers studied skeletons from London's St. Mary Spital cemetery, finding that stress markers like LEH were correlated with famine deaths. However, periosteal lesions on shin bones were found to be associated with normal, non-famine related deaths, contradicting previous assumptions about their significance.
Penguin parents' fixed division of labor makes them vulnerable to climate change, as they cannot adapt to food shortages. Sharing roles could provide up to 34.5% more feeds for chicks, but it's a complex strategy due to the smaller, less aggressive females' limitations.
Historic and prehistoric peoples in arid to semi-arid deserts were more susceptible to impacts from climate challenges due to created vulnerabilities to food shortfall. Social factors, such as limitations on networks and mobility, were the primary contributors to vulnerability to food shortage.
A new study suggests that global land surface temperatures will increase by an average of almost 8C by 2100 if significant efforts are not made to address climate change. This would have a devastating impact on life on Earth, posing risks from extreme temperatures, flooding, regional drought, and food shortages.
Researchers have linked the Irish potato famine pathogen to a fungus-like organism from South America using ancient DNA. The study suggests that early European activities in the New World led to the origin of this devastating pathogen.
A Newcastle University study found that stressed baby starlings grow into fat and greedy adults, changing their eating behavior as a result. The research showed that chicks that faced greater competition for food as juveniles tend to overeat when presented with freely available food.
Researchers found a strong link between prenatal exposure to the Ukrainian Famine of 1932-33 and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes in adulthood. The study, which included over 43,000 cases of type 2 diabetes, suggests that early gestation is a critical period for the development of long-term health outcomes.
A study on nematode worms found that starvation early in life can affect growth, reproduction and stress resistance in subsequent generations. The worms that survived famine became smaller, less fertile, but their offspring were more resistant to starvation and had improved stress tolerance.
A genome-wide study found that malnutrition in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy is associated with changes in DNA methylation, which can suppress genes involved in growth, development, and metabolism. These findings have significant implications for understanding the long-term effects of prenatal nutrition on health outcomes.
A recent study on wild baboons reveals that those born during periods of famine have long-term effects on female fertility, making them 60% less likely to become pregnant during food shortages. The findings support the idea that early adversity carries lifelong costs and can lead to poor health as adults.
Researchers discovered that famine exposure during the first pregnancy trimester is associated with increased mortality from non-cancer causes, challenging the fetal origins hypothesis. The study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, analyzed data from over 41,000 men born in the Netherlands during a period of famine and ...
Researchers found that individuals conceived during the Dutch Famine had altered regulation of growth genes, which may help them withstand adverse conditions but also increase risk for metabolic disease. The study, published in Nature Communications, provides new insights into epigenetics and its impact on human development.
A new study using roundworms reveals that starvation induces specific changes in small RNAs, which are inherited through at least three consecutive generations. The researchers found that these changes target genes involved in nutrition and result in a longer life span for the progeny of starved worms.
A study found that consumers were no more likely to support genetically modified crops for disease resistance when presented with stories of the Irish Potato Famine. Preconceived views about the risks and benefits of agricultural genetic engineering played a significant role in shaping consumer opinions. The research suggests that gene...
Researchers from Oregon State University have identified the ancestral home of Phytophthora infestans, a costly and deadly plant disease that causes potato late blight. The discovery provides new avenues to discover resistance genes and helps explain the mechanisms of repeated emergence of this disease.
Researchers analyzed fossil feces from an Arizona cave and found a diet rich in fiber, low in fat, and high in plant-based foods with low glycemic indices. This diet may have been enough to fix thrifty genes in place, making modern populations susceptible to disease.
A new study by Cassie Mogilner and co-authors found that spending time on others increases participants' feelings of 'time affluence.' This is because giving away time boosts one's sense of personal competence and efficiency, ultimately making people more willing to commit to future engagements despite their busy schedules.
Scientists at the Salk Institute have identified fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) as a crucial protein in maintaining insulin sensitivity and regulating fat storage. The discovery offers new avenues for treating type 2 diabetes, potentially providing a more natural alternative to existing antidiabetic drugs.
Restoring forests and planting trees on farms can greatly improve food security by providing a source of income, food, and fuel for households. In dryland areas like the Horn of Africa, forests serve as a crucial defense against poverty and provide critical sources of moisture and nutrients in the soil.
A study of women who experienced undernutrition during the Dutch famine found that it was associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease later in life. The research suggests that childhood and adolescent undernutrition can have a lasting impact on future health.
Researchers have isolated a key hormone that allows the Phytophthora fungi to reproduce and developed a synthetic version of this hormone. This breakthrough could lead to an effective method to combat this ancient scourge, which has caused devastating potato crop failures and food shortages globally.
Researchers have isolated a key hormone, alpha-1, that allows Phytophthora to reproduce, leading to extensive damage to food crops and ornamental plants. The synthesis of a synthetic version of the hormone offers a promising basis for developing an effective method to control the fungus.
ARS scientists Rich Novy and Jonathan Whitworth are working on a program to develop new potato lines that resist different biotypes of late blight. The goal is to help growers save on fungicides and other expenses associated with controlling the disease, which can render potatoes unmarketable.
Researchers have sequenced the genome of Phytophthora infestans, the cause of the Irish potato famine, to aid in its control and development of chemical-free methods. The pathogen's unique genetic traits, including repetitive DNA sequences, play a key role in its virulence and adaptability.
Research by the International Rice Research Institute has led to early rice harvests, reducing famine in northwest Bangladesh. The new methods allow farmers to plant rice earlier and use shorter-duration varieties, improving food security and reducing monga.
A study found that prenatal exposure to famine can cause epigenetic changes in humans that persist throughout life, increasing the risk of adverse health outcomes. Children conceived during the Dutch Hunger Winter had less DNA methylation of the IGF2 gene than their unexposed siblings.
A Dutch researcher developed an early warning system to monitor food consumption and predict potential shortages in rural Uganda. The system highlights the most pressing issues in a given area at a certain moment in time.
Ezra Susser received a $100,000 award to continue his research on the hypothesis that prenatal exposure to maternal famine increases risk of schizophrenia. The study will examine genetic mutations among persons exposed to the 1959-1960 China famine and collect diagnostic data and DNA samples.
Research suggests that babies conceived during a period of famine are at increased risk of developing addictions later in life. The study, which examined the 1944-45 Dutch 'hunger winter,' found that pregnant women who experienced severe food shortages were more likely to have children with addictive disorders.
Researchers are using UAVs to detect and monitor the spread of Phytophthora infestans, a fungus-like organism responsible for the Irish Potato Famine. The study aims to track the movement of the pathogen in the atmosphere to inform management decisions.
A NASA researcher has created a new method to anticipate food shortages brought on by drought using satellite remote sensing of crop growth and food prices. The model can help humanitarian aid organizations and decision makers predict how much food will be available and its cost, taking climate variables into account.
A NASA researcher has developed a new method to anticipate food shortages brought on by drought using satellite remote sensing of crop growth and food prices. The model can help government and humanitarian aid officials plan and respond to drought-induced food price increases, reducing the risk of famine.
Previous studies suggested that protected values lead to quantity insensitivity, but new findings reveal a different story. Morally-motivated decision makers may actually be more sensitive to consequences when considering net benefits.
A Rutgers-based team found a connection between the 1783 Icelandic volcanic eruption and a famine in Egypt, which reduced the Nile valley population by a sixth. The study used computer models to trace atmospheric changes from the eruption to their impact on North Africa.
Research suggests that folate deficiency during pregnancy can cause genetic mutations leading to schizophrenia, challenging the conventional wisdom on psychiatric disorders. The study of two major famines in the 20th century supports a theory of medical genetics where multiple genetic mutations contribute to diseases.
The region's livestock trade, migrant labor, and crop production are failing, leaving families without vital income. Humanitarian aid can address immediate needs but won't solve underlying conflicts, researchers warn.
A study found that prenatal exposure to famine in China's Wuhu region increased the risk of schizophrenia in later life. Birth rates dropped significantly during the famine years, and the risk of developing schizophrenia increased among those born during this time.
A study of Dutch women exposed to famine during World War II found a significant association between short-term famine and increased breast cancer risk. Women who experienced severe hunger and weight loss had a 48% higher risk of breast cancer compared to those with no exposure.
A new study by Ristaino and Kim May identifies the Ia strain of P. infestans, tracing its probable roots to the Andes Mountains in South America. The researchers analyzed 186 specimens from six regions worldwide, confirming 90% were infected with P. infestans.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have identified a gene that protects potatoes from late blight, a fungal pathogen responsible for the Irish potato famine. The discovery holds significant potential to save farmers hundreds of millions of dollars and benefit the environment by reducing toxic chemical applications.
A community-based therapeutic care component is being touted as a more effective and cost-efficient way to treat malnutrition during famine. The strategy aims to improve coverage, provide socioeconomic benefits, and reduce death rates from starvation.
Adults exposed to Dutch famine in utero exhibit abnormal lipid profiles, with significantly higher total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels. Maternal malnutrition in the first trimester permanently alters offspring lipid profiles later in life.
A study of 741 men and women exposed to the Dutch famine in utero found middle-aged women showed increased obesity rates, particularly abdominal deposition of body fat associated with metabolic syndrome. Women whose mothers were exposed to the famine early in their pregnancies were especially prone to later obesity.