Research on making sense of scientific and medical data. Covers AI error-correction, single-cell search engines, optical computing, and measurement reliability.
A team of international neuroscientists and engineers has been awarded a $5 million grant to unravel the mysteries of the brain and develop new technologies for better healthcare. The project aims to stimulate and sense brain activity at the single-neuron level, reconstructing neural circuits with computer simulations.
Recent gonorrhea susceptibility trends indicate a worsening of susceptibility to third-generation cephalosporin antibiotics, particularly cefixime. The CDC's Gonococcal Isolate Surveillance Project found that the percentage of resistant isolates increased from 0.1% in 2006 to 0.8% in 2014.
A new study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that US chain restaurants with voluntary calorie labels have an average of 140 fewer calories per item than those without labels. This trend suggests that menu labeling can encourage restaurants to offer healthier options and reduce population-level obesity.
The Northeast Big Data Innovation Hub aims to address health, energy, finance, urbanization, natural science, and education challenges using data analytics and collaboration between experts. The hub will focus on extracting insights from large datasets to bring about tangible results.
Research in India and Democratic Republic of the Congo found that households with continuous piped water supplies had lower rates of dysentery and typhoid fever, but no association with overall diarrheal illness or child growth. Interrupting water supply can negate health benefits.
Researchers found that patients with complete symptom resolution have a significantly lower risk of depression recurrence compared to those with residual symptoms. Complete symptom resolution is associated with a nearly three times higher risk of returning to a full-blown depressive episode within one year.
A large-scale study reveals that certain depression symptoms play a bigger role in driving the condition than others. The researchers suggest focusing treatment efforts on these key symptoms to improve patient outcomes.
A study in the Journal of Retailing found that leveraging distribution strategies can maximize firm performance in emerging markets. The authors propose an econometric model to help firms develop multichannel distribution strategies tailored to these markets.
NASA's GPM satellite analyzed Koppu's intensifying storm system on October 15, revealing an eye forming near its center. Rainfall rates reached over 133 mm per hour in intense thunderstorms just southwest of the storm's center.
The UMass Amherst team aims to develop tools and techniques that enable data management systems to protect private data from being used for unintended purposes. They plan to use differential privacy, adding statistical noise to query outputs to ensure accurate information while protecting individual privacy.
Researchers at MIT developed a system that can automate big-data analysis, identifying patterns and designing feature sets. The system was tested in three data science competitions, achieving accuracy rates up to 96% and completing tasks in just 2-12 hours compared to human teams.
The MinION miniature DNA sequencing device has been evaluated by an international consortium, showing consistent good performance and accuracy across five laboratories. The data is freely available for re-analysis and innovation on F1000Research.
The COMPASS method uses a combination of molecular spectroscopy techniques, predictive protein-folding algorithms, and image recognition software to determine a protein's likely structure. The approach has been successfully applied to 15 proteins and holds promise for studying complex protein structures that have eluded researchers.
A Northwestern University engineering team has designed a data visualization system to provide real-time insights into the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. The system uses historical and real-time data to forecast participant concentrations, helping officials plan accordingly.
Researchers have developed a system to enhance ACS data, enabling easier analysis of critical information in predefined geographic areas. The new tools allow planners to access socio-economic data on desired regions and time periods, making it easier for policy decisions.
Carnegie Mellon University has established an analytics lab with Boeing to develop AI-powered solutions for aerospace data. The lab aims to capitalize on the vast amounts of data generated in aircraft design, construction, and operation, enabling safer, more reliable, and efficient aircraft operations.
Analysis reveals that public charging infrastructure is not needed everywhere, with homes, workplaces, and 'hot spots' sufficient for adoption. Drivers tend to favor a few public stations when away from home, with workplace charging enabling significant electric range extension.
A study published in JAMA Dermatology found that psoriasis is associated with a higher risk of major depression, regardless of severity. Patients with psoriasis reported daily functional impairment more frequently than those without the condition.
Alexandra Meliou, a computer scientist at UMass Amherst, has received an NSF CAREER award to design new technologies that enhance data insights and improve data quality. Her work aims to address the issue of misused data due to lack of curating and validation.
The University of Maryland has been awarded $4.5 million to participate in the GROWTH network, which aims to improve understanding of cosmic transients. Undergraduates will analyze telescope data from the network using flipped learning environments and active-learning techniques.
The AAO-HNS Foundation is developing a clinical data registry for otolaryngology, with Regent being the first registry of its kind. The registry will help improve patient care by tracking care outcomes and identifying gaps in clinician knowledge and performance.
A new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that increased risk of mortality from long periods of sitting was only associated with very occasional fidgeters. Fidgeting, even for moderately or very active women, may offer enough of a break to counteract adverse health impacts.
A recent analysis suggests that devastating ultra-rare mutations in vulnerable genes play a causal role in roughly half of all ASD cases. The study identifies 239 genes whose 'vulnerability' to such mutations makes them priority research targets.
Scientists of KIT and universities develop the first all-optical, non-volatile on-chip memory using phase change materials, allowing for fast data storage and potentially increasing computer performance and reducing energy consumption. The new memory can store data for decades even when power is removed.
A Johns Hopkins University study found that Obamacare led to a decline in support for government health-care spending among Democrats, Republicans, and independents. Before the law's passage, about two-thirds of independents and Republicans supported increased health spending, but this dropped significantly after its enactment.
A study by Duke University analyzed data from 500 citizen scientists worldwide, who played the same games as researchers use in labs. The results showed that dogs rely on memory over sense of smell to solve problems. The dataset also revealed unique cognitive skills among dogs, including communication and problem-solving abilities.
Researchers investigated whether rhythmic skills are linked together or separate, finding that beat tapping and rhythm memory are distinct abilities. The study suggests that these skills may track differently with specific language functions.
A recent NIH-funded study found that fetuses with enlarged ventricles may be less likely to benefit from in-utero surgery for spina bifida, suggesting a wait-and-watch approach may be better. Enlarged brain cavities are associated with a higher risk of needing a second surgery after birth.
Researchers at UMass Amherst are developing smart energy services that use data from Holyoke Gas & Electric Co.'s smart meters to reduce peak demand, promote local renewable energy and save customers money. The services will also provide real-time notifications for unusual energy usage and suggested conservation tips.
The world has lost 129 million hectares of forest area since 1990, with tropical forests taking the hardest hit. However, there have been positive signs, including a halving of net forest loss from 7.3 to 3.3 million hectares between 2010 and 2015.
A study of over 4,000 European men found that those earning the majority of household income are most likely to want to work fewer hours. Men in partnerships and without children also desire shorter working weeks. The researchers suggest businesses should prioritize work-life balance for male breadwinners to reduce overwork.
An international team of researchers identified key opportunities in nutrition science to close a major gap between available and projected food by 2050. The researchers proposed eight axes of research, including sustainability, food safety, and big data analysis, to improve nutrition as a science.
Researchers analyzed data from Australia's 2006-2007 wildfires and found exposure to wildfire smoke was associated with increased hospital emergency department visits for asthma. Fine particulates in wildfire smoke are easily inhaled and remain deep in the lungs, causing harmful health effects.
Research reveals a four-fold increased risk of in-hospital cardiovascular mortality in AMI patients with respiratory infections. Respiratory infections were associated with longer hospital stays, more severe clinical presentations, and higher incidence of arrhythmias and reinfarction.
A recent study using fecal sampling and genetic analysis found hundreds of eastern chimpanzees inhabit a region of rapidly shrinking forest fragments in Uganda. The population is estimated to be between 250-320 individuals, three times larger than previously suspected.
A new study by University of Washington sociologist Jennifer Laird finds that African-American workers disproportionately lost jobs in the public sector during the Great Recession, leading to widening racial disparities. Black civil servants, especially women, faced higher rates of unemployment than their white counterparts.
Regenstrief Institute researchers introduce open source options for health information exchange and data analysis to improve healthcare in resource-constrained environments. An open-source framework for large-scale data analytics is also presented, allowing healthcare providers to analyze their own observational health data.
Working 55+ hours per week is associated with a 33% increased risk of stroke and a 13% increased risk of coronary heart disease. Longer working hours are linked to increased stress, physical inactivity, and high alcohol consumption, which may increase the risk of stroke.
Researchers have found a biological basis for the long-held belief that eating tomatoes can cause gout flares. Tomato consumption is linked to higher levels of uric acid in the blood, comparable to other commonly accepted gout trigger foods.
High participation in small church groups correlates with higher civic engagement rates among members unless overall group participation is high. In such cases, engaged small-group participants are less likely to donate to charities outside their congregation.
Researchers tracked foodborne illness outbreaks using social media, finding that online reviews of restaurants and businesses can aid traditional surveillance systems. Meanwhile, statisticians analyzed social media data after Typhoon Haiyan to develop best practices for emergency response.
A new study from WCS uses the Wisdom of Crowds method to assess the conservation status of the Manus green tree snail, a species found only on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea. The approach involves surveying a large number of people to generate estimates of the snail's range, distribution, and decline rate.
The field of risk analysis is entering a new phase with real-time probabilistic risk analysis, enabling better management of complex systems. New methodologies and technologies are being used to predict risks and improve global resilience.
Statisticians combine academic and commercial techniques to analyze large data sets, reducing processing time and increasing insight. This technology has the potential to aid researchers in various fields, including astronomy, by providing quicker insights from Big Data.
A Baylor University study found that counties in the US with more beautiful weather and scenery have lower rates of membership and affiliation with religious organizations. The research suggests that natural amenities can serve as conduits to the sacred, competing with traditional religious congregations.
The Alan Turing Institute has made significant progress in its first few days of operations, with the appointment of Professor Andrew Blake as its first Director. The Institute will promote the development and use of advanced mathematics, computer science, algorithms, and big data for human benefit.
A study of 41,000 Danish women found unsuccessful fertility treatments do not increase depression risk. Becoming a mother is a greater trigger for clinically diagnosed depression than fertility treatment stress.
Analysis of 835 studies shows that even low weekly physical activity is associated with a 22% lowered risk of death. The most significant health benefits were found among those who increased their physical activity, particularly women.
A team of researchers from Bielefeld University created a virtual package of data for biogas production to improve its understanding. They made their research more reproducible by releasing all the data and computational methods as a shareable container, enabling others to build on these resources to study biogas generation.
The study found that mixed reviews are a double-edged sword, hurt or helping product sales depending on critic reviews. Retailers can capitalize on review variability by promoting quality signifiers and understanding niche user needs.
Over a 15-year study of older Medicare patients, Yale School of Medicine researchers found significant improvements in health outcomes. The team discovered an estimated 20% drop in mortality rates and 30% fewer hospitalizations compared to the initial years of the study.
A new study published in Nature Geoscience reveals that latent heat release in ascending air masses plays a crucial role in the formation and perpetuation of stable high-pressure systems, also known as 'blocking', which can lead to extreme weather conditions. The research team analyzed massive amounts of climate data from around the wo...
A recent study found that marijuana use among teens is increasing, particularly among black teens, while cigarette and alcohol use are decreasing. The study analyzed data from over 600,000 high school seniors between 1976 and 2013 and found a marked decline in cigarette use and an increase in marijuana use.
Fitness levels among US schoolchildren sharply decline as students get older, with girls experiencing a continual decline in aerobic capacity. The study suggests room for improvement in both BMI and aerobic capacity, highlighting the importance of physical activity in healthy youth development.
Researchers at the University of Illinois will develop a Big Data platform to automate plant breeding using cameras, sensors, and drones. The platform aims to reduce manual measurement costs and increase efficiency in identifying high-yielding sorghum strains.
A study found that player-to-player contact was the most common cause of concussions in high school soccer, with heading the ball being the most common soccer-specific activity leading to concussions. The rate of concussions per 10,000 athlete exposures was higher for boys than girls, highlighting a need for improved safety measures.
A Vanderbilt University Medical Center study analyzed data from 63,109 patients with acute traumatic spinal cord injury and found a significant increase in incidence rates among men aged 65-74. Most patients regain some function after an injury, but many require lifelong healthcare services.
The establishment of a global genomic data commons in the cloud would increase access to valuable genetic data, reduce costs, and accelerate cancer research. This initiative aims to provide secure and authorized access to large-scale genomic datasets.
A newly discovered, 48-million-year-old fossil of the 'Jesus lizard,' Babibasiliscus alxi, has been found in Wyoming. The ancient reptile may have thrived in a once-tropical habitat and provides valuable insight into how climate change affects tropical species.
Rapidly turning lovebirds execute extremely fast head turns when their wings cover their eyes, shortening blurry phases and maintaining stable vision. This super-fast behavior allows them to make split-second decisions during maneuvers.