Research on making sense of scientific and medical data. Covers AI error-correction, single-cell search engines, optical computing, and measurement reliability.
Researchers from Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have identified a new crystal structure for hydrogen at low temperatures near 0 K and high pressures. The team used supercomputer simulations and data science to generate several candidate patterns, which were then validated through high-resolution simulations.
Researchers found animal-dispersed plant species' ability to adapt to climate change reduced by 60% due to bird and mammal losses. Global seed dispersal mapping revealed severe declines in temperate regions, with tropical areas at high risk if endangered species go extinct.
A Rutgers study found that phthalates, commonly found in consumer products, can alter the production of essential placental hormones during pregnancy. Higher levels of phthalates have been linked to increased risk of preterm birth, gestational diabetes, and high blood pressure.
Researchers found that fungal communities play a key role in tree growth, with some species increasing tree growth rates up to a tree-fold. The study suggests that using specific fungal communities can help improve forestry and potentially absorb more carbon from the atmosphere.
Researchers at Penn State developed a new risk score system that uses genetic data to predict obesity in young children. The scores, called polygenic risk scores, can be easily interpreted and have been shown to be effective in identifying children most at risk for developing obesity.
Researchers have designed a new method to illuminate the effects of interference in experimental data, enabling social and behavioral researchers to account for it across various applications. This approach can test directly for interference effects, such as spillovers and peer effects in social networks.
The NYU Tandon team is developing an AI 'virtual assistant' to provide just-in-time visual and audio feedback for complex tasks. The project aims to create a dynamic intelligent agent that engages with users, responding to their emotional state, location, and surrounding conditions.
A new study projects that increased alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic will result in 8,000 additional deaths from liver disease and 18,700 cases of liver failure by 2040. The researchers estimated a one-year increase in consumption to cause 100 additional deaths and 2,800 cases of liver failure by 2023.
A study by Dr. Felix Hagemeister found a significant link between right-wing populist party victories and an increase in far-right protests, particularly in areas with relatively liberal attitudes.
A pilot study of exercise and cognition in progressive multiple sclerosis found that cardiorespiratory fitness and free-living physical activity were not associated with improved cognitive performance. The study, which analyzed data from 240 individuals with progressive MS, suggests that other mechanisms may be at play.
A new study published in PLOS Computational Biology found that the order of COVID-19 symptoms varies depending on the SARS-CoV-2 variant. In the USA, cough was most likely to be the first symptom, while fever and diarrhea were more common third symptoms.
A study found concurrent heatwaves occurring simultaneously in mid- to high-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere were seven times greater in the 2010s, causing more severe societal impacts. The heat events grew hotter and larger, exhausting countries' ability to provide mutual aid during crises.
An analysis of data from 16 US states reveals a major increase in wine and spirit sales during the COVID-19 pandemic, accompanied by changes in the relationship between alcohol sales and business visits. Sales of spirits and wine increased by as much as 20-40% in some states, while beer sales declined overall.
Researchers developed an algorithm to differentiate life-threatening gunshot events from non-life-threatening plastic bag explosion events. The study found that 75% of plastic bag pop sounds were misclassified as gunshot sounds, highlighting the need for a diverse dataset of similar sounds.
Scientists found that seven genes associated with bright-light vision are absent in burrowing snakes, demonstrating extensive vision gene loss over millions of years. This challenges the hypothesis that all modern snakes evolved from extreme burrowers, suggesting a different evolutionary path for these subterranean snakes.
The Safe Childbirth Checklist, adapted for local needs, increased communication of danger signs, improved baby feeding practices, and reduced stillbirth rates in Indonesian health facilities. The study suggests that long-term adherence to the tool requires continued support for midwives.
Researchers at the University of Missouri have developed a free online resource that speeds up data analysis of human genomes three times faster than current methods. This enables scientists to see how an individual's genome makes them susceptible to different diseases in different ways, ultimately reducing associated costs and increas...
A UConn study found that supporting surviving parents can reduce youth suicide risk by combating negative self-views in bereaved children. The Family Bereavement Program improved parenting skills and needs, leading to reduced aversive self-views and increased child positive connectedness.
Researchers analyzed satellite data over two decades to understand how climate change impacts Red Sea marine ecosystem. Phytoplankton blooms show unique annual cycles, with four specific bioregions in the region experiencing different seasonal patterns.
Research found a significant correlation between increased atmospheric temperature and asthma attacks in children. Lower SO2 levels during the state of emergency also contributed to reduced asthma exacerbations, suggesting that environmental factors play a crucial role in asthma management.
A recent study found associations between air and water pollutants and changes in the human sex ratio at birth. Pollutants such as PCBs, iron, lead, and chromium were linked to an increased or decreased ratio of baby boys to girls.
A new study from Karolinska Institutet and the University of Helsinki reveals how integrating digital tools, classical laboratory tests, and biomolecular measurements can enable individualized disease prevention. The researchers also found significant correlations between health risks and molecular factors associated with overweight, d...
A recent study by NTU Singapore has found a strong link between increasing air pollution and the rise of lung adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer. The study also discovered that declining smoking rates are associated with lower incidence of lung squamous cell carcinoma.
A systematic literature review found HIV seroprevalence in five key populations: men who have sex with men (MSM), people who inject drugs (PWID), prisoners, sex workers, and transgender people. The review identified significant gaps in data, particularly for transgender individuals.
The European Union and European Economic Area saw a significant decline in antibiotic consumption in 2020, with a 18% decrease compared to 2019. This decline was largely attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to reduced primary care consultations for mild infections.
A study published in PLOS Computational Biology found that rodents have a greater diversity and accelerated rate of evolution in the ACE2 receptors used by SARS viruses. This suggests that some rodent species may be asymptomatic carriers of SARS-like coronaviruses, potentially leading to new pathogen transmission to humans.
Researchers at GIST have made a breakthrough in creating a perovskite material with easily tunable electrical properties. The study used ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and low energy electron diffraction to investigate the effects of fabrication conditions on the material's surface.
A new Rutgers study found young sexual minority Black men in NYC experience higher rates of stop-and-frisk encounters than their Hispanic and white counterparts. The researchers emphasize the need for community-based solutions to address these stressful interactions and promote mental health and wellbeing.
Rice University computer scientists have discovered an inexpensive way to implement rigorous personal data privacy in large databases for machine learning. Using locality sensitive hashing, their RACE method creates small summaries of enormous databases while scaling for high-dimensional data.
States allowing minors to consent to HPV vaccination without parental involvement showed higher vaccine series initiation rates from 2015 to 2018, according to a JAMA Pediatrics analysis of nearly 82,000 adolescents. The study found increased vaccine uptake in these states compared to those with parental consent requirements.
Researchers identified areas of the infant visual cortex that already show strong preferences for faces, bodies, or scenes, similar to those in adults. This challenges the traditional view that these regions take years to develop, suggesting a more rapid emergence of specialized brain structures.
A new study reveals that marine species in the Mediterranean are migrating tens of meters deeper to survive warmer temperatures. The research found that cold-water species deepen significantly more than warm-water species, with an average depth increase of 55 meters across the region.
A study by Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg reveals that mid-sized collaborations are crucial for companies to become gatekeepers in Germany's business network. These collaborations lead to improved innovation and profits. Large companies dominate the gatekeeper position, but smaller collaborations can also be beneficial.
A new Cleveland Clinic study found that patients with certain sleep disorders have a 31% higher rate of hospitalization and mortality from COVID-19. The research team analyzed retrospective data from 5,400 patients and found that sleep-related hypoxia translates to worse COVID-19 outcomes.
Researchers identified 23 genes contributing to congenital heart disease, including 12 previously unknown, using a new algorithm called M-DATA. This method combines genetic data from people with related conditions, increasing the power to identify risk factors and potentially leading to improved treatments.
Astronomer Dr. Lauri Jetsu discovers multiple new companion star candidates for the eclipsing binary Algol AB, with orbital periods between 20 and 219 years. The companions are too faint to be detected by modern space telescopes, but their periodic signals can predict observed O-C changes.
Low-risk gamblers in Massachusetts reported the majority of gambling harms, confirming the 'prevention paradox' phenomenon. The study suggests targeting public health efforts towards primary prevention to reduce community harm.
Researchers at Pusan National University and Columbia University reanalyzed poverty estimates in unmarried parent families using the 'Supplemental Poverty Measure' (SPM), accounting for specific criteria. The analysis revealed significant drops in poverty rates over time, particularly for single-mother families.
A team of researchers led by Maurizio Porfiri found that counties with fewer COVID-19 cases voted more for Joe Biden than Donald Trump. The study used a spatial data modeling approach to analyze county-level data and determine the influence of epidemiological and economic processes on voting behavior.
Researchers at NJIT, USC, and Harvard are developing a new software called StreamWare to analyze multiple sources of live data. The team plans to test new combinations of algorithms and hardware accelerators on various data sets, aiming to demonstrate prototypes in 3-6 months.
A new study of online relationship support finds that men tend to experience emotional pain more than women when their relationship takes a turn for the worse. The study analyzed over 184,000 people who posted their relationship problems online and found that communication problems were the #1 most frequent issue, with nearly 1 in 5 pe...
Researchers launched an open competition to benchmark existing and novel methods for quantifying anomalous diffusion. The analysis of results provided an objective assessment of method performance, contributing to the definition of standard tools for trajectory analysis.
A $1.7 million NIH-funded project trains Kenyan experts to integrate social determinants into health modeling, aiming to improve health outcomes and advance global data science knowledge.
Researchers from the University of Rhode Island studied the interaction between tornado-strength winds and highway overpasses, finding no evidence of wind acceleration under an overpass. The study, published in Physics of Fluids, suggests that using an overpass as a shelter during a tornado may not be safer than other options.
The study found that COVID-19 relief funds disproportionately went to hospitals in stronger financial situations, which later experienced the most COVID-19 cases. The analysis suggests a complex relationship between hospital funding and pandemic outcomes.
A new approach to measuring financial and digital literacy is proposed by a team of researchers led by Angela Lyons. The study finds that while promoting literacy is important, it may not be enough to ensure resilience, particularly for vulnerable groups such as women and those living in poverty.
A research team from the University of Zurich has identified a common genetic variant in the AQP1 gene that affects treatment efficacy and patient survival on peritoneal dialysis. Patients carrying this variant have a higher risk of death, but researchers found a way to circumvent the problem using colloid osmotic agents.
Researchers from Regenstrief Institute found that Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information Systems (PROMIS) scales for depression can accurately diagnose and track patient symptoms. The study showed similar accuracy to the widely adopted PHQ-9 scale, supporting PROMIS as a viable screening option.
A study analyzing data from 3,438 trainees has identified key factors associated with success in Recon Marine training, including prior life experience, athletic experience, and physical performance metrics. The research aims to inform military recruitment and training strategies, advancing novel ways to recruit and retain for the U.S....
A new MIT study suggests that pedestrians choose routes that point most directly toward their destination, even if those routes are longer. This strategy, known as vector-based navigation, may have evolved to allow the brain to devote more power to other tasks.
Researchers from University of Copenhagen discover a protein analysis that can predict COVID-19 patient death or hospitalization with high accuracy, predicting 78.7% of hospitalizations and 93.9% of non-serious infections. This discovery has the potential to save lives by identifying high-risk individuals.
A German study reveals that glyphosate and dozens of other pesticides are spreading through the air for miles into national parks and cities. The analysis was published in a peer-reviewed journal and shows that agricultural toxins like glyphosate are classified as probably carcinogenic to humans by the World Health Organisation.
A study found that snakes rapidly diversified their diets following the K-Pg mass extinction event, incorporating birds, fish, and small mammals into their diet. This diversification was triggered by ecological opportunities presented by the extinction, with some lineages experiencing further bursts of adaptive evolution.
A new analysis suggests that the continuous arrival of infected individuals has a significant influence on the evolution and severity of local outbreaks. The researchers found an association between the number of seed arrivals and the speed of spread, final number of people infected, and peak incidence rate.
The StEER Network's post-event reconnaissance helped assess building damage from Hurricane Michael, revealing widespread wind- and surge-induced damage. The dataset has been used to develop data-driven fragilities, train machine learning applications, and inform policy and practice improvements for coastal communities.
The cost of establishing laboratories to track antimicrobial resistance in Southeast Asian hospitals is substantial, making it challenging for many countries to implement such programs. Financial support is crucial to overcome these costs and provide effective antimicrobial resistance monitoring.
A Kaiser Permanente study found that the 2021 USPSTF guidelines will likely increase lung cancer screening of women, racial and ethnic minority groups, and individuals with lower socioeconomic status. This is expected to lead to an estimated 30% increase in lung cancer diagnoses compared to the 2013 recommendations.
A new research center will use genomic data and socioeconomic factors to better predict health outcomes in individuals of diverse ancestry. The center aims to develop computational tools to combine large datasets and analyze them for consistent relationships among admixed populations.
A CHOP-led study found that healthy full-term infants born during the COVID-19 pandemic had substantially shorter hospital stays, with a significant increase in early discharge rates. Despite shorter hospital stays, infant rehospitalizations within a week of discharge remained unchanged.
A new study from the University of Illinois evaluates fintech systems in 16 emerging markets, finding that digital technologies improve access to financial services. However, vulnerable populations face barriers to usage due to digital literacy, cost, and limited consumer protections.