Add BrightSurf on Google Email

US Census data vulnerable to attack without enhanced privacy measures

Computer scientists designed a reconstruction attack that proves US Census data can be exposed and stolen with current privacy measures. The study demonstrates risks to individual respondents' privacy, highlighting the need for differential privacy techniques to protect sensitive information.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 21, 2023

A tale of two sustainable cities

A team of researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and University of Georgia is leading a $749,997 NSF Convergence project to collect and analyze data in Pittsburgh and Georgia to build a more circular economy. They will use the Circularity Assessment Protocol (CAP) to examine material usage and management at community levels.

Chinese Medical Journal study highlights epilepsy trends in China between 1990 and 2019

A Chinese Medical Journal study analyzed the temporal and spatial distribution of epilepsy across China, finding significant increases in incidence and prevalence rates between 1990 and 2019. The study also showed a general decrease in age-standardized DALY rates with increasing socio-demographic index.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalChinese Medical Journal·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 15, 2023

Overweight and obesity prevalent and poorly managed among adults with type 1 diabetes

A recent study found that adults with type 1 diabetes are at a high risk of being overweight or obese, but only half receive lifestyle recommendations to manage their weight. The study also highlighted the importance of individualized patient education in improving weight management for these patients.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 13, 2023

WVU researchers estimate cost of ‘injury deaths of despair,’ including suicide, exceeds $1 trillion annually in the U.S.

The study found that estimated national costs of self-injury mortality rose by 143% from $0.46 trillion to $1.12 trillion over a 20-year period, primarily driven by increases in opioid and alcohol-related deaths. West Virginia has the highest per capita cost at $6,534, with total suicide costs increasing 58% to $502.7 billion.

SourceWest Virginia University·JournalBMC Public Health·DateFeb 9, 2023

Dental service use falls, oral health worsens after people become eligible for Medicare

A recent study found that nearly half of older adults receive no dental care and half lack dental insurance. After becoming eligible for Medicare, the percentage of people receiving restorative dental care decreased by 8.7%, while complete edentulism increased by almost 5 percentage points among those aged 65 and above.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalHealth Affairs·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 7, 2023

Black South Africans report higher life satisfaction and are at less risk for depression post-migration, MU study finds

A new study found Black South Africans who migrated to find work reported better emotional well-being and were at lower risk for depression after the move. The research may help policymakers tailor mental health resources to underprivileged migrants and those seeking economic mobility.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalSSM - Mental Health·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 3, 2023

Mapping Mexico’s dengue fever hotspots

A Rutgers researcher has analyzed data from Mexico's Ministry of Health to identify dengue fever hotspots, highlighting areas where severe outbreaks occur. The study found that lower socioeconomic status increases risk of dengue fever and that DENV-2 is the deadliest serotype.

SourceRutgers University·JournalEcological Informatics·TypeContent analysis·DateFeb 1, 2023

Immunocompromised patients remain at higher risk of COVID-19 death in hospital

A UK study using data from over 150,000 hospitalized patients found that immunocompromised individuals had a 44% higher risk of death compared to those with normal immune systems. The gap in mortality rates widened for immunocompromised patients over time, highlighting the need for targeted interventions such as antiviral treatments an...

SourceUniversity of Liverpool·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 1, 2023

New study finds depression, poor mental health linked to higher heart disease risks among young adults

A new study by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers found that young adults with depression are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease and have poor heart health. The study analyzed data from over half a million people between the ages of 18 and 49 and found that those who self-reported feeling depressed or having poor mental heal...

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·DateJan 30, 2023

Simulations reproduce complex fluctuations in soft X-ray signal detected by satellites

A team of researchers has successfully modeled the complex fluctuations in soft X-ray signals detected by satellites using numerical methods. They were able to capture how the signal varied with the orbital motion of the satellite and reproduce it up to a factor of two, an impressive feat in the field.

SourceTokyo Metropolitan University·JournalPublications of the Astronomical Society of Japan·DateJan 28, 2023

Looking back at the Tonga eruption

A new analysis of seismic data recorded after the Tonga eruption has revealed two distinct sequences of events, including quasi-periodic explosions and a massive final event. The study used back-projection techniques to tease out details from teleseismic P waves, shedding light on the volcano's internal dynamics.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 27, 2023

UK newspapers generally report on meat substitutes positively—but high processing of some meat and dairy alternatives, high environmental footprint of protein crops, and big business involvement are portrayed as the biggest concerns

Plant-based protein products are generally reported positively in UK newspapers, but issues such as high processing levels and environmental footprints of protein crops dominate the narrative. The study suggests that big business involvement is also a significant concern.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Sustainability and Transformation·DateJan 26, 2023

Gillings study shows updated bivalent boosters are more effective at preventing hospitalization and death from Omicron

A peer-reviewed study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that updated bivalent mRNA vaccines are more effective than original monovalent boosters at preventing COVID-19 hospitalization and death. Booster effectiveness peaked at four weeks after receipt and waned afterward, with average effectiveness against severe i...

SourceUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 25, 2023

UCalgary and WHO researchers find hybrid immunity is the best protection against COVID-19

Researchers from UCalgary and the World Health Organization found that people with hybrid immunity have the highest level of protection against severe illness and reinfection, offering a key finding for public policy makers. The study suggests vaccination should be prioritized even among those who have had COVID-19.

SourceUniversity of Calgary·JournalThe Lancet Infectious Diseases·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJan 20, 2023

New research reveals shifting identities of global fishing fleet to help bolster fisheries management

A new study used satellite data and public registry information to track the changing identities of commercial fishing vessels, revealing that nearly 20% of high seas fishing is carried out by unregulated or unauthorized vessels. The study found hotspots of potential IUU fishing in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean and western Indian Ocean.

SourceGlobal Fishing Watch·JournalScience Advances·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 18, 2023

New study showed how people interacted with chatbots during COVID-19 pandemic

A new study analyzed nearly 20,000 conversations between online users and a chatbot called SimSimi to understand user interactions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers found that daily chats with the chatbot mostly led to positive emotions and reduced negative moods during lockdowns.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalJournal of Medical Internet Research·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 18, 2023

Study suggests vitamin D benefits and metabolism may depend on body weight

Researchers analyzed data from the VITAL trial and found that vitamin D supplementation increased biomarkers associated with vitamin D metabolism in people, regardless of their weight. However, these increases were significantly smaller in people with elevated BMIs, suggesting a blunted response to supplementation.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalJournal of the American Medical Association·TypeObservational study·DateJan 17, 2023

Researchers propose a more effective method to predict floods

A team of researchers from Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University and other institutions has identified a flexible and user-friendly model for predicting flood frequency in a changing environment. The fractional polynomial-based regression method is more effective than existing models, which often fail to account for factors like climate ...

SourceXi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University·JournalJournal of Hydrology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 9, 2023

Where do reproductive-age women receive preventive health care?

A UMass Amherst study reveals that 61% of wellness visits for reproductive-age women (15-49) were with OB-GYNs, while chronic condition patients also relied heavily on these specialists. Key preventive services like pap tests and pelvic exams were more common in OB-GYN settings, whereas lipid testing was rare.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalHealth Services Research·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 22, 2022

New software based on Artificial Intelligence helps to interpret complex data

Researchers have developed a new software based on artificial intelligence that can help interpret complex data. The software, called disentangled variational autoencoder network (β-VAE), uses two neural networks to compress and reconstruct data, allowing humans to understand the underlying core principle without prior knowledge.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie·JournalScientific Reports·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 20, 2022

Large, real-world study finds COVID-19 vaccination more effective than natural immunity in protecting against all causes of death, hospitalization and emergency department visits

A large real-world study has confirmed that COVID-19 vaccination is more effective than natural immunity in preventing death, hospitalizations, and emergency department visits for any cause. Vaccinated individuals had a 37% lower risk of all-cause death and hospital admission rates compared to those with natural immunity.

SourceRegenstrief Institute·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateDec 15, 2022

Research Brief: Racial disparities in surgery recommendations for patients with brain tumors

Researchers found that Black patients were more likely to be recommended against surgical removal of their brain tumors, regardless of tumor size or socioeconomic status. The study provides a basis for future research on racial bias in clinical decision-making and its impact on patient outcomes.

SourceUniversity of Minnesota Medical School·JournalThe Lancet·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 14, 2022

Vitamin D deficiency increases risk of losing muscle strength by 78%

Researchers found that vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of dynapenia, an age-associated loss of muscle strength, by 70-78%. Vitamin D supplementation was shown to reduce this risk. The study analyzed data from over 3,000 individuals aged 50 and over, highlighting the importance of vitamin D for maintaining muscle strength.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalCalcified Tissue International·DateDec 13, 2022

Hundreds-fold electrochemical measurement output brings data science to reveal microbial electricity generation mechanisms

Researchers developed a device capable of taking hundreds of times more electrochemical measurements than conventional devices, enabling the analysis of molecular mechanisms that enable microorganisms to efficiently generate electricity. The technique can also be used to analyze materials interacting with microorganisms.

Largest study of its kind reveals adjuvant chemotherapy improves overall survival for pancreatic cancer patients

A nationwide retrospective study showed that adjuvant chemotherapy after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and surgery significantly improved overall survival in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, regardless of lymph node status or resection margins. The study included nearly 900 patients and was published in JAMA Oncology.

Cochrane review of COVID-19 vaccines shows they are effective

The Cochrane review analyzed data from 41 randomized controlled trials of 12 different COVID-19 vaccines, involving 433,838 people worldwide. The review found that most vaccines reduced the risk of COVID-19 infection and severe disease, with few reported side effects.

SourceWiley·JournalCochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·DateDec 6, 2022

Making “transport” robots smarter

University of Missouri engineers are working on a collaborative human-robot order picking system to speed up the online delivery process. The proposed model aims to optimize key decisions in warehouse operations, allowing robots to navigate efficiently and collaborate with humans to increase efficiency.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalInternational Journal of Production Economics·DateNov 29, 2022