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Lightning flashes increase Earth's atmosphere's cleansing capacity, airborne study shows

A recent airborne study reveals extreme amounts of hydroxyl and hydroperoxyl radicals generated by lightning, suggesting a substantial proportion of global atmospheric oxidation. The results could indicate that lightning-generated oxidants are responsible for between 2-16% of the Earth's atmosphere oxidizing capacity.

El Niño can help predict cacao harvests up to 2 years in advance

Researchers found that El Niño can accurately predict cacao yields with a high degree of confidence, even 25 months before the harvest. This innovative approach uses machine learning and rigorous data collection to provide valuable insights for farmers and policymakers, enabling them to make informed investment decisions.

Unlocking Australia's biodiversity, one dataset at a time

The Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) is a national biodiversity database that provides reliable data for scientists, policy-makers, and environmental planners. It contains nearly 95 million occurrence records of over 111,000 species, showcasing its potential to support the development of science and decision-making.

SourcePensoft Publishers·JournalBiodiversity Data Journal·DateApr 22, 2021

The majority of workers return to their jobs after being hospitalized for injuries

A recent study found that nearly 60% of adult patients who needed hospitalization for injuries eventually returned to work. However, they often faced significant challenges, including increased rates of food insecurity, physical disability, and difficulty accessing healthcare. The research team analyzed data from the National Health In...

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalJournal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery·DateMar 31, 2021

Want to learn to change a tire? Virtual reality could help

A study by PLOS ONE found that virtual reality training with augmented multisensory cues improves user experience during training and task performance in the real world. The findings suggest that this technology can be a valuable tool for teaching essential skills like car maintenance.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMar 24, 2021

Modernizing the naval selection process

The US Navy is developing a virtual reality personality assessment tool to improve recruitment and selection processes. The Manpower and Personnel Assessment Battery (MPAB) will use virtual reality technology, physiological markers, and real-time data analytics to assess applicants' skills and personalities.

Standing out from the crowd

A study by researchers from the Universities of Göttingen and Groningen found that companies' investors significantly impact the uniqueness of their chosen strategies. Dedicated investors, such as pension funds, can resolve the 'uniqueness paradox' by recognizing the value of unique strategies for long-term corporate development.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalStrategic Management Journal·DateMar 16, 2021

Characteristics, mortality associated with diabetic ketoacidosis among us patients hospitalized with,without COVID-19

A recent study analyzed US hospital data to describe the characteristics and mortality associated with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) among patients with and without COVID-19. The findings indicate a higher mortality rate for DKA patients hospitalized with COVID-19, emphasizing the need for careful management of these cases.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateMar 10, 2021

Finding quvigints in a quantum treasure map

Physicists at the University of Queensland have created a new method for finding unknown quantum states, called self-guided tomography, which enables them to locate quvigints more quickly and accurately in high dimensions. This technique uses machine learning to pick directions, collect data, and process it to find the target state.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMar 10, 2021

Tracking data reveals shared political responsibility for the conservation of albatrosses and petrel

Researchers analyzed tracking data of 5,775 birds across 39 species to estimate global political responsibility for their protection. The study found that many countries lack agreements with each other's breeding grounds, highlighting the need for international agreements to conserve these threatened seabirds.

Effects of face masks on speech recognition

Respirator and cloth masks increase difficulties in recognizing speech amidst background noise. Surgical masks have no negative effect on communication., Researchers found face masks negatively affect speech recognition in noisy settings.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateFeb 24, 2021

Captive chimpanzees may unite against a common enemy

Captive chimpanzees display cohesive behaviors such as physical closeness and play when exposed to recorded calls of unknown chimp species. This response indicates an innate ability to form alliances, suggesting a complex social structure in captive chimps.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateFeb 24, 2021

New study evaluates the advancement of ecology from a 2D to 3D science

A new study co-led by Arizona State University's Greg Asner explores the advancement of ecology from a 2D to a 3D science, leveraging remotely sensed 3D information to provide new ecological insights. The research has potential applications in addressing challenges associated with integrating dynamic oceanographic information and bette...

ASHP publishes reports exploring pharmacy's role in future of healthcare delivery

The ASHP published two landmark reports articulating a futuristic vision for pharmacy practice, including expanded roles and optimized medication use. The reports outline opportunities for pharmacy leaders to advance patient-centered care and population health, and recommend adopting the HVPE framework and Pharmacy Forecast report.

SourceASHP (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists)·JournalAmerican Journal of Health-System Pharmacy·DateFeb 16, 2021