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Dentists take bite out of opioid epidemic

Zane Sparling

October 03, 2017 |

The Gresham Outlook |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Portland, Oregon

Dentists in Multnomah County, Oregon are helping to prevent "doctor shopping", where addicts attempt to get prescriptions from multiple providers. They are doing this by checking a national database that lists all of a patient's current prescriptions, and not prescribing refills on opiate prescriptions without a follow-up visit. This effort has drastically reduced the number of overall prescriptions written, and replaced those drugs with ibuprofen and tylenol, which are both proven to be more effective in relieving acute pain.

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Here's What Actually Reduces Gun Violence

Peter Aldhous

October 02, 2017 |

Buzzfeed |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

Among policy proposals to reduce gun violence the most effective are background checks and the use of focused deterrence by law enforcement. The latter is where police meet with community leaders and members of criminal groups to warn of harsh penalties for gun use, while also connecting people with resources to help them move beyond criminal activity. Laws that temporarily remove guns from those who may be suicidal or homicidal also show promise, but there isn't much data on them yet.

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China's Crazy Plan to Keep Sand From Swallowing the World

Vince Beiser

October 01, 2017 |

Mother Jones |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Mongolia, Duolun

Overfarming, over-grazing, climate change and population growth are all to blame for turning Duolun County in China's Inner Mongolia region into a bigger desert than it was to begin with. With 87 percent of the area turned into desert, sandstorms began to be the norm and would often engulf the neighboring region of Beijing. The Duolun project attempts to stop this by embarking on a tree-planting mission. Not without it's limitations and criticisms, this solution is by no means perfect, but it's somewhat of a start that has seen Duolun reportedly increase to 31 percent forested land.

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Why Did India Have Ten Million Fewer Childhood Deaths Than Predicted?

Chhavi Sachdev

September 23, 2017 |

NPR |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: India

The Million Death study revealed that the child mortality rate in India has decreased over the past 15 years. These results are most likely due to vaccine drives, free diagnostics, more health clinics and other such improvements.

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Sleep deprivation can rapidly reduce the symptoms of depression

Rich Haridy

September 19, 2017 |

New Atlas |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States

Sleep deprivation can help alleviate depression, but only in the short-term. This discovery may be helpful to implement in future treatments for depression.

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‘Fingerprinting' the Ocean to Predict Devastating Sea Level Rise

Erica Cirino

September 18, 2017 |

News Deeply |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States

As temperatures continue to steadily and consistently rise because of climate change, the warming ocean has become an increasing threat to the livelihoods of those living near any shore. From Hurricane-force winds to rising sea levels that threaten floods, the potential for future storm surges is only becoming more apparent. In an effort to mitigate and potentially minimize loss, scientists from around the world are "fingerprinting" sea level rise by the use of satellites in an attempt to predict which coastal areas are most at risk from these impending storms.

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Cameroon cleanup lets flood-hit residents sleep with "both eyes closed"

Amindeh Blaise Atabong

September 06, 2017 |

Thomson Reuters Foundation |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Cameroon, Yaounde

The neighborhood of Nkolbikok in Cameroon was facing a trash collection problem. With garbage accumulating regularly in the streets, water drains were being blocked causing severe flooding when it would rain. To help reduce the likelihood of flooding, community members started Tam Tam Mobile, a resident-run daily trash pickup and removal service.

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After its dams came down, a river is reborn

Kate Schimel

September 04, 2017 |

High Country News |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington

Removing dams pays back dividends by restoring ecological diversity. In Washington State, the decommissioning of the Elwha and Glines Canyon Dams began a decades-long process of restoring the Elwha River’s floodplain. By studying the river and learning from their failures, researchers are learning the best ways to maintain salmon populations and foster an environment more resilient to climate change.

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Malawian Farmers Adapt in the Face of Climate Change

Deogracias Benjamin Kalima

August 31, 2017 |

Earth Island |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Malawi, Lunzu

Malawian farmers have been hit hard by climate change over the last two farming seasons, and have thus seen a drop in agricultural production. To combat these losses, agriculture experts have begun implementing climate-smart farming practices that allow them to "sustainably increase productivity, enhance resilience (adaptation), reduce greenhouse gas emissions where possible, and help with achievement of national food security and development goals" according to the Food and Agricultural Organization.

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While Pa. debates merits of Pre-K, Ontario goes all-in

Kevin McCorry

August 30, 2017 |

Keystone Crossroads |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Canada, Toronto, Ontario

Part 4 of the "Equity or Bust: Are Ontario's Public Schools a Model for Pennsylvania" Series: Ontario is widely lauded for its education system. But, like Pennsylvania, evidence in Toronto suggests that Ontario has struggled to close achievement gaps between historically underserved minorities and their peers. Many believe universal pre-K will prove to be the decisive factor in bridging that gap.

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