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The researchers looked at Brazil’s forest cover from 1990 to 2022. They gathered yearly data on GDP per person, total farm output value, and farm output per hectare. Using a modern statistical model, they measured how these factors affect forest area over the long run. They also checked how changes in one factor influence the others over time. The model allowed them to separate short‑term shocks from lasting effects. Results show a clear pattern. When the total value of farm production rises, forests tend to shrink. However, the amount of output per hectare and the income per person follow a curve. At first, higher values reduce forest area, but after a certain point, the trend flips and forests start to grow again. This turning point suggests that beyond a threshold, more wealth and bett

At 43, a woman who had a right double‑J stent for a kidney infection needed a new treatment. She had a 13‑mm stone in her kidney pelvis, measured at 1,497 HU and about 1,214 mm³. The robotic system called ILY was chosen. The video shows each step. First the room is set up and the robot is calibrated. Then sterile drapes are placed. The robot is positioned, fixed, and docked to the ureteral sheath with the ureteroscope. The surgeon uses the console to guide the scope through the ureter, does laser lithotripsy, inspects the kidney, and undocks using a routine. A flexible suction sheath stays in place. Draping took 167 seconds and docking took 645 seconds. The console ran for 115 minutes, with 52 minutes of laser work at 8 Hz and 1. 2 joules. No basket was needed. Undocking finished in 74 se

Kids in low‑income nations often live in crowded cities where trees are disappearing fast. Urban growth brings better roads and clinics, but it also chops up green areas. Researchers used health records from 2000 to 2019 in 57 poor countries. They linked each child's home address to satellite data on tree canopy. The goal was to see how tree cover relates to deaths of children under five. The link was not straight; a little tree cover already cut risk a lot. When tree cover was low to medium, each extra percent of trees next to each other lowered death risk by about 0. 17%. The hazard ratio was 0. 9983, meaning the chance of dying fell just a touch. The biggest chances to add trees were found in West Sudanian Savanna, eastern Punjab in Pakistan, and the Ganges‑Brahmaputra delta in Banglad

India’s mouth health crisis is severe, hitting low‑income groups hardest. Many people suffer from cavities and gum disease, yet the health system does not give it enough attention. The problem is made worse by limited access to clean water and proper dental care. What people eat, drink, and buy also shapes their mouth health. Sugary drinks, cheap snacks, and even some dental products can cause damage. Big companies that sell these items have a lot of power. When cheap, sugary options are everywhere, it is hard for families to choose healthier foods. Right now, most studies look at how individuals brush or floss, ignoring the bigger picture. We need to study how money, rules, and business tricks affect health. That means looking at laws, market forces, and the way firms market their goods

The Western Balkans lag far behind EU waste standards. Landfills are still the main way they handle trash. Recycling facilities are scarce and uneven. This makes the region’s waste picture far from the EU’s clean target. Researchers applied the PROMETHEE II decision tool to rank five countries. They used four Eurostat numbers from 2022: waste per person, waste per GDP unit, recycling rate, and total waste per person. Each factor got the same importance. A sensitivity test showed the rankings held steady. Albania ranked first because its waste intensity was low and recycling was relatively high. Montenegro finished last with the weakest scores. All five nations fell far short of the EU benchmark of 49. 1% recycling. The gap shows a clear need for better systems. The authors say separate c

Researchers looked at data from a trial that aimed to prevent gestational diabetes by using vitamin D and lifestyle changes. The group included 323 babies born to mothers with a pre‑pregnancy body‑mass index around 34 kg/m², about half of them boys. They measured how much leptin was present in the umbilical cords and compared it to the infants’ fat mass. The goal was to see whether a high leptin‑to‑fat ratio could signal problems at birth or during the first year. Girls tended to have more leptin, more fat, and a higher leptin‑to‑fat ratio than boys (p

Researchers are exploring how adjusting nitrate levels can help plants fight off a common fungal infection. The study focused on gerbera plants, which are often targeted by a fungus called Podosphaera xanthii. The team discovered that lower nitrate levels reduced the severity of the infection. This suggests that managing nitrogen availability could be a useful tool for farmers. The experiment involved growing gerbera plants under different nitrate conditions. Using advanced lab techniques, scientists analyzed the chemical changes in the plants. They found that lower nitrate levels led to fewer amino acids but more defense-related compounds. These included substances like gerberin and chlorogenic acid, which are known to protect plants from pathogens. Interestingly, the best results came

A new look at how older people with type 1 diabetes handle their blood sugar using a smart pump. Researchers examined a group of seniors who used the MiniMed 780G automated insulin delivery system to see how well it kept their sugar levels in check. The study looked at 97 people aged 60 and older, most of them women. Their average age was about 68. The data showed that on average they spent about 76% of the day in the safe sugar range, about 51% in a tighter range, and only a little over 1% below the safe zone. Fourteen of the participants followed the device maker’s recommended settings, aiming for a target of 5. 5 mmol/L and two hours of active insulin. Their numbers were close to those who didn’t follow the exact plan. When the group was split by how well they stayed in the tighter ran

Feeling tired all the time is a big problem for people with rheumatoid arthritis. This fatigue can make simple chores like getting dressed or cooking feel impossible. In Saudi Arabia, we still know little about how this tiredness affects everyday life for RA patients. To learn more, researchers went to Aseer Central Hospital and looked at patients who visited the rheumatology clinic from March to December 2024. They asked adults aged sixteen and older who had been diagnosed with RA using the 2010 rules to join the study. Fatigue was measured with an Arabic version of a questionnaire called BRAF-MDQ. Disease activity was checked with DAS28-CRP, which looks at swollen joints and a blood marker. Everyday ability was scored with a twelve-question ADL test. One hundred forty people took part,