New French prescribing rules for zolpidem resulted in a significant decrease in its use, with a corresponding rise in zopiclone prescriptions. The implementation of secure prescribing forms in 2017 led to a half cut in zolpidem prescribing rates, while zopiclone usage increased nearly equally.
SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateJul 14, 2020
A study published in Annals of the American Thoracic Society found that Black individuals were twice as likely to test positive for COVID-19. The average age of infected participants was 52 years old, compared to 45 years old for those who tested negative.
SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAnnals of the American Thoracic Society·DateJul 9, 2020
A study of young adults who experienced a heart attack found that quitting smoking within a year significantly reduces the risk of death from heart disease. Among those who quit, rates of death were more than 70% lower than among persistent smokers.
SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateJul 8, 2020
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.
A study aimed to develop and validate tools for assessing delirium severity in older patients, which could lead to improved prevention and treatment. Researchers identified a set of items capturing the severity of delirium and developed a new instrument for quick and easy administration.
SourceHebrew SeniorLife Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research·DateJul 8, 2020
A recent study from Singapore found that early access to pension wealth improves overall health status. The researchers analyzed monthly survey data from 2015 to 2019 and discovered that individuals who accessed their pension funds before age 55 had better self-reported health status afterward.
Researchers at MLU and Lanzhou University developed a simple concept for improved magnetic-based data processing using ultrashort electric pulses in the terahertz range. This enables fast and energy-efficient data storage with billions of read and write operations per second.
SourceMartin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg·JournalNPG Asia Materials·DateJul 2, 2020
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a system that combines iPhone videos to create 4D visualizations, allowing viewers to watch action from various angles. The method uses convolutional neural nets and can be applied to a wide range of scenes, including those shot independently from different vantage points.
A University of Illinois professor has proposed a framework for guiding researchers in developing common data science approaches, aiming to unify conversations and share knowledge across disciplines. The data science life cycle framework identifies key issues that can be generalized across fields and those specific to each discipline.
SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalCommunications of the ACM·DateJun 25, 2020
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.
A recent study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that cancer survivors tend to overestimate the quality of their diets. The researchers analyzed data from over 2,300 cancer survivors and compared it to a control group, revealing that those who overrated their diet quality had poorer overall health.
SourceGeorge Mason University·JournalEuropean Journal of Clinical Nutrition·DateJun 25, 2020
A UBC study analyzed survey data from 13,611 adults in the US to identify social and behavioral factors closely linked to mortality. The top 10 factors included smoking, divorce, alcohol abuse, recent financial difficulties, and history of unemployment.
SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 22, 2020
Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology found that Kabuki actors had shorter lifespans compared to other traditional arts performers who led sedentary lifestyles. The study suggests that excessive endurance training and physical activity may overwhelm the beneficial aspects of regular exercise.
SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalPalgrave Communications·DateJun 18, 2020
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.
A recent study developed a new technique for photographing and data analytics to count lions, which has shown promising results in understanding their populations and movements. The current estimates of African lion populations are thought to be unreliable due to the use of outdated methods such as track counts and audio lure surveys.
SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and Evolution·DateJun 17, 2020
A machine-learning model analyzes histopathology slides to predict cancer prognosis and survival. The study, published in PLOS ONE, shows promise for improving cancer care.
Researchers from HSE University developed an algorithm called Allen, which processes data from the LHCb detector using a farm of GPUs. This approach increases processing speeds up to 40 Tbit/s and reduces costs compared to traditional CPU-based systems.
SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalComputing and Software for Big Science·DateJun 16, 2020
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.
The University of Arkansas will lead a statewide computing-cloud called the Arkansas Research Platform to integrate existing high-performance computer resources. Researchers from nine institutions will focus on three major areas of data science: managing complex data sets, securing data privacy, and developing machine learning models.
Hemant Purohit is working on a project that examines the use of big data analytics in disaster response, particularly for social media monitoring. The goal is to understand how humans and AI systems collaborate and improve information processing.
The Corrona Psoriasis Registry presents studies on real-world prescribing patterns, biologic drug effects, and COVID-19 outcomes. Longitudinal studies also report improvements in quality of life and work productivity for patients treated with biologics.
A study analyzing grade data for over 25,000 students found that minority students who score above C- are 'hyperpersistent' in STEM classes. The researchers suggest improving student performance could disproportionately increase the retention rate of underrepresented students in STEM majors.
SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience Advances·DateJun 10, 2020
A new study from Georgia Institute of Technology reveals surprising findings about electric vehicle drivers' perceptions of charging stations, highlighting the importance of quality infrastructure. Contrary to conventional wisdom, public charging stations do not receive more positive reviews than private ones, and dense urban areas exp...
SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalNature Sustainability·DateJun 8, 2020
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.
Researchers at Ohio State University found that the halo surrounding the Milky Way galaxy is much hotter than initially thought, with temperatures reaching up to 10 million degrees Kelvin. This new discovery could help astronomers understand how galaxies form and grow, as well as the elements that contribute to these halos.
A method to investigate healthcare data quality using a systematic approach has been developed by researchers at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. The software automatically detects data defects effectively and efficiently, reducing the prevalence of errors in some existing healthcare datasets.
SourceUniversity of Maryland Baltimore County·JournalJAMIA Open·DateMay 29, 2020
A new study reveals that global environmental changes are leading to a decrease in the age and stature of forests worldwide. Rising temperatures and carbon dioxide have been altering forest dynamics, causing increased stress and mortality among trees.
SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalScience·DateMay 28, 2020
A new study by Carnegie Mellon University researchers has found the brain programs that code the sequence of steps in performing a complex procedure. The main findings were that each knot had a distinctive neural signature, so the researchers could tell which knot was being tied from the sequence of brain images collected.
SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalPsychological Science·DateMay 27, 2020
Researchers found that ancient civilizations underwent three phases of sociopolitical development, with population growth being the first driver, followed by innovations in information processing and storage. The study suggests that these advances enabled societies to continue growing beyond a certain scale threshold.
SourceWashington State University·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 27, 2020
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.
Researchers found that lifestyle is the strongest factor influencing specialty choice among osteopathic medical students, with women being more likely to pursue primary care. The study suggests that osteopathic medical schools investing in female candidates may lead to an increase in primary care physicians.
SourceAmerican Osteopathic Association·JournalThe Journal of the American Osteopathic Association·DateMay 26, 2020
A recent Oregon State University study found that 91% of participants bought more fruits and vegetables through the Double Up Food Bucks program. The program increased availability of fresh produce at home and improved overall health, particularly among non-white shoppers.
SourceOregon State University·JournalJournal of Nutrition Education and Behavior·DateMay 26, 2020
Around 1 in 4 police officers may drink at hazardous levels, while 1 in 7 meet PTSD or depression criteria. Effective treatment and monitoring programs are needed to address these issues.
SourceBMJ Group·JournalOccupational and Environmental Medicine·DateMay 21, 2020
A new study by ISGlobal found that heat is now more lethal than cold for people with respiratory diseases in Spain, particularly women and older adults. The study analyzed data on over 1.3 million deaths between 1980 and 2016 and found a significant decline in temperature-attributable mortality during the colder months.
SourceBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 20, 2020
Early warning scores (EWS) used in hospitals have methodological and reporting weaknesses, which may lead to detrimental effects on patient care. The research found that most EWS were developed for UK and US use, but many studies had poor methods and inadequate reporting.
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.
Analysis of data from 147 countries found a strong association between rising incomes and increasing obesity rates, with an average increase in obesity rates for every 1% rise in GDP per capita. The study suggests that policy initiatives may be necessary to combat obesity in low- and middle-income countries undergoing income growth.
Researchers developed a deep-learning framework called Morpheus to perform pixel-level morphological classifications of objects in astronomical images. The tool can handle complex images and provide detailed classification results with confidence levels.
SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series·DateMay 12, 2020
A new University of Stirling study aims to understand how easing of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions can be managed to protect emergency services. The project will investigate policy options for reopening pubs, nightclubs, and restaurants while minimizing infection risks.
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.
The University of Queensland's new Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) guidelines aim to personalise antibiotic treatment for critically ill patients in ICU. By using advanced software to predict accurate drug dosages, the guidelines have shown promise in reducing adverse outcomes and improving patient response.
SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalIntensive Care Medicine·DateMay 8, 2020
A Stanford-led study analyzing 95 million traffic stop records found that black drivers are less likely to be stopped at night, while officers search cars of blacks and Hispanics more often than whites. The researchers used a massive database to identify systematic bias in police stops and searches.
SourceStanford University School of Engineering·JournalNature Human Behaviour·DateMay 6, 2020
A new analysis of reef restoration projects in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary found that staghorn coral colonies survived for two years after outplanting, but declined over time. Large numbers of colonies need to be outplanted to ensure long-term survival.
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.
Analysis of participants in the Harvard Biomarkers Study reveals an inverse association between low caffeine consumption and higher urate levels with reduced risk of Parkinson's disease. The study suggests that both caffeine and urate possess neuroprotective properties, raising potential for disease-slowing effects.
Researchers analyzed genomic data of 20 lion specimens, including extinct cave lions from Siberia and India, finding a shared ancestor 500,000 years ago. The study suggests limited gene flow between modern lions' lineages after their divergence 70,000 years ago.
SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 4, 2020
A UMass Lowell researcher has received a $1.4 million federal grant to develop a novel solution for detecting damage in wind turbine blades using sound monitoring technology.
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.
Researchers found a 'wobble' in Japan's landmasses before the 2011 magnitude-9 earthquake that killed over 15,500 people. The movement, detected by GPS data, may indicate future large subduction-zone earthquakes. However, the study's findings cannot be applied to other subduction zones without comparable data.
A recent storm in Argentina produced hailstones up to 9.3 inches across, potentially setting a new world record. Researchers suggest classifying such large hailstones as 'gargantuan' and emphasize the need for more awareness and data collection to better understand these extreme events.
SourcePenn State·JournalBulletin of the American Meteorological Society·DateApr 29, 2020
A study in Shenzhen, China analyzed data from 391 COVID-19 cases and their contacts to understand the virus's transmission dynamics. The analysis revealed that contact tracing and extensive testing reduced the incubation period to about three days, and household contacts were at high risk of infection.
SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalThe Lancet Infectious Diseases·DateApr 28, 2020
Engineers are developing a rapid test kit for identifying body fluids at crime scenes, which will improve the speed and accuracy of investigations. The disposable tool can detect multiple types of body fluid protein biomarkers from small samples.
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.
Researchers found that people are drawn to fictional villains who share similarities with themselves, as it removes discomfort and allows exploration of dark aspects. This preference is linked to the idea that fiction provides a 'safe haven' for comparison.
SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateApr 22, 2020
A study published in Foods found that coffee makes people more sensitive to sweetness and less sensitive to bitterness. The researchers suggest that the bitter compounds in coffee may be responsible for this effect. This discovery could have implications for our understanding of how we regulate sugar consumption.
A new study highlights the need for a better data framework to reanalyze genetic data, which could improve diagnostic rates for rare diseases by up to 32%. The study found that current practices vary widely and raise concerns about laboratory and clinician responsibilities, as well as patients' ability to advocate for themselves.
SourceMurdoch Childrens Research Institute·JournalFamilial Cancer·DateApr 16, 2020
A new program analyzing Maine and New Hampshire well water samples found that 25% exceed the New Hampshire maximum safety level of 5 ppb, while 62% of homeowners haven't had their water tested. The results highlight the need for improved testing and mitigation strategies to protect residents from arsenic-related health risks.
A questionnaire survey identified potential separation-related problems in 30 out of 223 sampled cats, including destructive behavior, excessive vocalization, and depression. The study found that households with no female residents and those without cat toys were more likely to have cats with these issues.
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.
A recent analysis found that adherence to the Mediterranean diet correlates with higher cognitive function and slower cognitive decline. High fish and vegetable consumption had the greatest protective effect on cognition.
Researchers at UNC Chapel Hill developed a one-way street for electrons by shaping silicon into a funnel, allowing for faster data processing and energy harvesting. This technology may enable devices to wirelessly charge themselves from the data they receive without needing to leave a person's wrist.
SourceUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill·JournalScience·DateApr 9, 2020
The Texas Advanced Computing Center has announced that the National Science Foundation has approved allocations of supercomputing time on Frontera to 49 science projects. These projects will utilize a total of 54 million node hours and constitute approximately 65% of the total time on the system being allocated for this year.
SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin, Texas Advanced Computing Center·DateApr 9, 2020
A large European study of over 100,000 adults found that a combination of healthy lifestyle factors, including low smoking and moderate physical activity, were linked to the longest periods without chronic diseases. The study's results provide new insights into the importance of healthy habits in preventing chronic disease.
SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·DateApr 6, 2020
A secondary analysis of UK data found a significant long-term association between early childhood video game use and increased risk of obesity in teenagers. Regular bedtimes and physical activity were also linked to lower body weight, suggesting potential protective effects against excessive gaming.
SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Pediatrics·DateApr 6, 2020
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.
Researchers at the University of Leeds have discovered a dynamic shape-shifting mechanism in noroviruses, which may help explain their potent pathogenicity and inform vaccine development. The study's findings could lead to the creation of more effective vaccine candidates using virus-like particles (VLPs).
SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalPLOS Biology·DateMar 31, 2020
A study analyzing data from nearly all TAVR patients in the US found that 34 medical centers reported worse-than-expected survival and quality-of-life outcomes among patients undergoing the procedure. The researchers identified key outcomes, including stroke, bleeding, kidney injury, and valve leakage, to assess patient care.
An observational study of 2,900 older residents found that long-term air pollution exposure increases the risk of developing dementia. Cardiovascular disease may contribute to this association by increasing blood flow and oxygenation to the brain, leading to neurodegenerative changes.
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.
Despite improved measures of gender equality since 1970, recent decades have seen stalled progress, with some gaps widening. Women now outpace men in higher education and certain occupations, but overall trends suggest a need for cultural and institutional shifts to address remaining disparities.
SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 30, 2020
A recent study by University of Notre Dame researchers found that individuals who went to bed even 30 minutes later than their usual bedtime presented a significantly higher resting heart rate, which lasted into the following day. This increase in resting heart rate carried over into the next day and was linked to an increased risk to ...
SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalNature·DateMar 24, 2020
A new study from Duke and Vanderbilt University psychologists found that older people are generally more emotionally stable and better able to resist temptations in their daily lives. The researchers surveyed 123 participants aged 20-80 and found that age is a stronger predictor of the ability to resist temptation than emotional state.
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.
Researchers found a moderate association between consuming tofu high in isoflavones and a lower risk of heart disease. The study primarily showed favorable effects on young women before menopause or postmenopausal women not taking hormones, with a 18% lower risk compared to those eating tofu less than once a week.
A new study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine reports that a three-drug combination of fluticasone furoate, umeclidinium, and vilanterol reduces all-cause mortality by 42% in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treated with an inhaler once daily.
SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateMar 18, 2020