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An electronic registry system to improve the health of the migrant population

A study by ISGlobal used an electronic personal health record system to collect data on migrant populations arriving in southern Europe between 2016 and 2019. The results showed a young and healthy population with acute respiratory infections, HIV/TB, and chronic conditions such as diabetes. The system proved useful for collecting effe...

SourceBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)·JournalJournal of Travel Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 30, 2022

Study: With masking and distancing in place, NFL stadium openings in 2020 had no impact on local Covid-19 infections

Researchers found that opening stadiums to fans with safety protocols in place did not lead to an increase in local Covid case counts. The study used synthetic control method to analyze data from 16 stadiums, which mirrored the trajectory of surrounding counties without stadiums.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 23, 2022

"Advanced" countries’ wealth depends on the appropriation of resources and labour from the global South

A study by Jason Hickel reveals that the global North appropriates vast resources and labor from the global South through price differentials in international trade, resulting in a net drain of $10.8 trillion in 2015. This unsustainable practice perpetuates global inequality and ecological breakdown.

SourceUniversitat Autonoma de Barcelona·JournalGlobal Environmental Change·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 22, 2022

Identifying toxic materials in water with machine learning

Researchers at UBCO's School of Engineering have developed a new, faster method for analyzing toxic waste materials using fluorescence spectroscopy and convolutional neural networks. This method can detect key toxins such as naphthenic acids in oil sands samples, providing a low-cost alternative to current methods.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia Okanagan campus·JournalJournal of Hazardous Materials·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 21, 2022

Unravelling tautomeric mixtures: RIXS at BESSY II allows to see clearly

A team of scientists successfully investigated the electronic structure of tautomeric mixtures using inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) at BESSY II. They can now experimentally separate the signal of each individual molecule, providing detailed insight into their functionality and chemical properties.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 17, 2022

Data science to help find the most appropriate rehabilitation methods for osteoarthritis patients

A study using data science and mathematical models identifies the most suitable rehabilitation method for each patient with osteoarthritis. The research aims to provide personalized treatment recommendations for healthcare professionals, ultimately leading to more effective care for patients.

SourceUniversity of Jyväskylä - Jyväskylän yliopisto·JournalAnnals of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 17, 2022

Reading builds resilience among at-risk kids

A study from University of South Australia found that reading aloud to children can triple a child's resilience at school, particularly for those who have suffered abuse or neglect. The study identified reading as a key factor in supporting children's emotional, social and physical development before they start school.

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalChild Abuse & Neglect·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 7, 2022

Disadvantaged older adults face greater risk of function, cognition decline after ICU admission

A retrospective analysis found that socioeconomically disadvantaged older adults are at a higher risk of decline in function and cognition after an intensive care unit hospitalization. The study highlights the need to prioritize low-income seniors in rehabilitation and recovery efforts after critical illness.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 7, 2022

More alcohol, less brain: Penn-led study finds an association that begins with an average of just one drink a day

A new study using a dataset of over 36,000 adults found that light-to-moderate alcohol consumption was associated with reductions in overall brain volume. The association grew stronger with increasing levels of alcohol consumption, comparable to aging two and three years, respectively.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 4, 2022

Why some bubbles move faster

Researchers found that polymer molecules interact with the flow around gas bubbles, causing a sudden increase in velocity. This knowledge can be used to predict oxygen input and design equipment for industries like biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.

SourceGraz University of Technology·JournalJournal of Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMar 3, 2022

Are urban railways in Tokyo on the right track? Researchers from Japan attempt to answer

Researchers from Shibaura Institute of Technology analyzed 18 Tokyo Metropolitan Area railway lines to understand the impact of in-vehicle congestion on efficiency. They found that incorporating congestion rates into efficiency analysis can help develop better public transit strategies, leading to higher service levels and sustainability.

SourceShibaura Institute of Technology·JournalTransport Policy·TypeObservational study·DateMar 2, 2022

Higher minimum wage may reduce rent defaults but raise rent payments

A new study found that a higher minimum wage was associated with fewer people defaulting on their rent payments, particularly among those at the lower end of the housing expense market. However, landlords responded by increasing rent payments, offsetting some but not all of the increased income.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Urban Economics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 1, 2022

Singing in the brain

Researchers discovered a population of neurons in the auditory cortex that responds specifically to singing, but not speech or instrumental music. The study uses electrocorticography (ECoG) recordings to gain higher-resolution data, revealing fine-grained segregation of function within the auditory cortex.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalCurrent Biology·DateFeb 22, 2022

Illinois musicians, chemists use sound to better understand science

Researchers at the University of Illinois used sonification to analyze data and teach protein folding, leading to a new discovery about protein folding mechanisms. Musicians collaborated with chemists to create audio-mapped visualizations that complemented traditional views, increasing intuition for experts.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of Chemical Education·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 17, 2022

Artificial intelligence and big data can help preserve wildlife

A team of scientists has developed a pioneering approach to combine advances in computer vision with ecological expertise to analyze wildlife populations. By leveraging AI and machine learning algorithms, researchers can extract key features from images and videos to quickly classify species, count individuals, and track behavior.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalNature Communications·TypeMeta-analysis·DateFeb 9, 2022

Tiny antenna enables portable biomedical, food-analysis, and other gadgets driven by integrated nano- and terahertz technologies

Researchers have designed a tiny and flat antenna for receiving and transmitting terahertz signals, enabling the miniaturization of THz devices. The new design integrates the antenna with the system, eliminating the need for bulky silicon lenses and reducing optical power required.

Suicides by drug overdose increased among young people, elderly people, and Black women, despite overall downward trend

A recent study found an increase in intentional drug overdose deaths among young people aged 15-24, older adults aged 75-84, and non-Hispanic Black women. Despite a downward trend in overall deaths, these subgroups saw a rise in intentional overdose death rates, with women ages 45 to 64 having the highest rates.

SourceNIH/National Institute on Drug Abuse·JournalAmerican Journal of Psychiatry·DateFeb 2, 2022

How machine learning can improve food insecurity predictions

Researchers found that machine learning models can help predict village food insecurity outcomes in Sub-Saharan African countries. The models incorporate publicly available data on weather, geography, and food prices to capture a wide variety of factors that can influence food insecurity. Key takeaways include the need for interpretabl...

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalApplied Economic Perspectives and Policy·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 2, 2022

Social connectedness, sleep, and physical activity associated with better mental health among youth during the COVID-19 pandemic

A longitudinal survey of over 3,000 adolescents aged 11-14 found that supportive relationships with family and friends, physical activity, and better sleep helped shield against the pandemic's negative impact on mental health. Girls were more likely than boys to experience psychological distress during the pandemic.

SourceNIH/National Institute on Drug Abuse·JournalJournal of Adolescent Health·DateJan 24, 2022