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Doing the math on Zika and sex

A University of Miami research team created a mathematical model to investigate the role of sexual transmission in the spread and control of Zika. The study found that mosquito control remains the most important mitigation method, but sexual transmission increases the risk of infection and prolongs outbreaks.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalScientific Reports·DateJun 28, 2016

Low risk of dengue infection predicted for foreign visitors to Rio Olympics

Researchers predict a low risk of dengue infection among foreign visitors to the Rio Olympics, with estimates suggesting as few as three symptomatic cases and potentially no asymptomatic infections at all. The predictions are based on sophisticated mathematical modeling techniques and data from Brazil's Health Ministry.

Potential impact of a dengue vaccine in the Yucatan

A dengue vaccine has the potential to substantially reduce disease burden if it induces long-lasting immunity. Researchers found that a durable vaccine, with booster doses, can reduce annual dengue incidence by up to 80% within five years.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateMay 26, 2016

Smartphones uncover how the world sleeps

A study of worldwide sleep patterns combines math modeling, mobile apps and big data to parse the roles society and biology each play in setting sleep schedules. Cultural pressures can override natural circadian rhythms, with effects showing up most markedly at bedtime.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 6, 2016

Model perfect

Researchers developed a framework to address uncertainty in mathematical models by considering the effects of correlated parameters. This approach improves model predictability and reliability, with applications in fields such as catalysis, combustion, environmental sciences, and biology.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalNature Chemistry·DateFeb 22, 2016

A mathematical model for animal stripes

Researchers assembled various models into a single equation to identify the variables controlling stripe formation. The integrated model predicts three main perturbations that can affect how stripes orient, including changes in production and parameter gradients.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Systems·DateDec 23, 2015

New SIR-Network Model helps predict dengue fever epidemic in urban areas

A new mathematical model helps researchers predict the spread of dengue fever in urban areas by analyzing neighborhood conditions and human travel patterns. The SIR-Network model reveals that central neighborhoods are crucial hubs for transmission, emphasizing the need for countermeasures before epidemics peak.

SourceSociety for Industrial and Applied Mathematics·JournalSIAM Journal on Applied Mathematics·DateDec 23, 2015

Mathematical model suggests select DCIS patients could delay treatment

A mathematical model developed by Duke researchers suggests that active surveillance could be a viable alternative to surgery and radiation for select patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). The study found that older women and those with serious health problems may benefit from delayed treatment, while younger women may not. Th...

SourceDuke University Medical Center·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateDec 16, 2015

Control of blood vessel formation

Researchers from Kumamoto University and The University of Tokyo have elucidated the control of cellular movement during blood vessel formation, showing that tip cells and trailing cells move at different speeds and directions. This study provides new insights into the complex cellular motion involved in blood vessel proliferation.

SourceKumamoto University·JournalCell Reports·DateNov 19, 2015

Predictive policing substantially reduces crime in Los Angeles during months-long test

A UCLA-led team developed a mathematical model to predict crime hotspots, which was tested in Los Angeles and Kent, England. The model accurately predicted crime locations more often than human analysts, leading to a significant reduction in crime rates in Los Angeles, with potential annual savings of $9 million.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalJournal of the American Statistical Association·DateOct 7, 2015

Scientists refine model to predict dangerous errors in cell division

Researchers at Virginia Tech have refined a mathematical model that simulates genetic mutations and their impact on cell division. The model's accuracy has been improved through laboratory experiments and is expected to be useful in understanding how certain mutations thrive and reproduce, particularly in the context of cancer.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalMolecular Biology of the Cell·DateSep 30, 2015

Insects passed 'the Turing Test'

Russian scientists confirm Turing reaction-diffusion model's predictions in insect corneas, revealing four main morphological patterns and their universal presence among arthropods. The findings demonstrate a promising future for designing artificial antireflective nanosurfaces.

SourceLomonosov Moscow State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 21, 2015

Liquids on fibers -- slipping or flowing?

Researchers at Saarland University have found that liquid films on fibers can slip faster than flow along the fiber, leading to faster droplet formation. The team's study has important implications for designing novel fiber coatings for water harvesting applications.

SourceSaarland University·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 1, 2015

Making sense through order

A study by Ting Qian and Richard Aslin shows that our brains are wired to detect patterns in data, even if they don't lead to correct conclusions. This tendency is built into cognitive processes, providing information on possibilities that might not have been considered otherwise.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 15, 2014

Adding uncertainty to improve mathematical models

Researchers from Brown University have introduced a new element of uncertainty into Burgers' equation to describe turbulence and shocks in fluid flows. This formulation aims to make mathematical models more realistic by accounting for external influences such as terrain, which was previously ignored in standard equations.

Mutations from Venus, mutations from Mars

Researchers at Weizmann Institute of Science discover that genetic mutations affecting only half the population, like those causing male sterility, occur twice as often as those affecting males and females equally. This finding has implications for understanding causes of genetic diseases and developing targeted treatments.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 28, 2014

Using math to analyze movement of cells, organisms, and disease

Mathematicians develop models to describe cell migration and tumor invasion, as well as dispersal patterns in species. The studies reveal the existence and uniqueness of traveling waves in malignant tumor invasion and show how fitness-dependent dispersal conveys advantages towards ideal free distribution in populations.

SourceSociety for Industrial and Applied Mathematics·JournalSIAM Journal on Mathematical Analysis·DateJun 25, 2014