Research on making sense of scientific and medical data. Covers AI error-correction, single-cell search engines, optical computing, and measurement reliability.
A new study from the University of Toronto suggests that having more schedule control at work can lead to blurring of boundaries between work and family life. Researchers found that individuals with partial or full schedule control experienced less negative consequences in terms of work-family multitasking activities.
A section of northwestern Harris County is sinking rapidly due to groundwater withdrawal and subsidence. Researchers analyzed GPS data over a decade, finding that some areas sink up to 5.5 cm/year.
A new percutaneous mitral valve clip device demonstrated significant clinical benefits for patients with mitral valve regurgitation, improving left ventricular function and quality of life scores. The study found that patients with reduced MR grade at 12 months experienced marked clinical benefit.
Tel Aviv University researchers Prof. Avishai Wool and Yossi Oren have developed a method for extracting more information from secure chips using modern cryptology methods and constraint programming. By analyzing power fluctuations, they can block out 'noise' and deliver accurate analysis of chip secret contents.
Nautilus provides cutting-edge capabilities for analyzing large datasets in various fields, including life sciences and astrophysics. The system is designed to process vast amounts of data using its shared-memory architecture with four terabytes of memory.
The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization has launched a new online fire detection system using NASA satellite data, providing daily fire maps and images. The system enables firefighters to respond more efficiently and reduces the risk of wildfires and associated pollutants.
A meta-analysis of previous research reveals that very low-birth-weight and very preterm infants have a higher likelihood of neonatal and predischarge death when born at less-specialized hospitals. The study found a significant increase in mortality rates for these high-risk infants, emphasizing the importance of hospital level of care.
Researchers found that spouses tend to pick each other based on shared personality traits rather than growing alike over time. Aggression is an exception to this pattern, where spouses may become more aggressive together due to their interactions.
A Temple University study reevaluates data from a widely publicized 2006 study on the effects of sexualized media on teens, finding no link between the two. The researcher controlled for other factors, such as school performance and parental relationships, to rule out potential correlations.
A study of over 2,000 business units found that employee work perceptions predict important organizational outcomes. Employee job satisfaction is linked to higher retention rates, increased customer loyalty, and better financial performance.
NASA's TRMM satellite confirms better organization in Tropical Depression 5, leading to its classification as the fifth tropical depression in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. Forecasters predict strengthening into Tropical Storm Danielle in the next day or so.
A study published in JAMA found that the incidence of hospital-onset and community-onset invasive MRSA infections decreased by 28% and 17%, respectively, between 2005 and 2008. The decrease was attributed to the dissemination of MRSA prevention practices in US hospitals.
A study published in Archives of Neurology found that nearly 75% of stroke patients remained on their prescribed medications after hospital discharge. Factors associated with persistent medication use included cardiovascular disease, insurance coverage, and understanding the purpose of the medications.
A Greenland glacier has lost a quarter of its floating ice-shelf, giving birth to an ice island four times the size of Manhattan. The freshwater stored in this ice island could keep the Delaware or Hudson rivers flowing for more than two years.
HokieSpeed is expected to deliver 35 times better peak performance and 70 times better power efficiency than System X, Virginia Tech's previous supercomputer. The instrument will enable researchers to perform in-situ visualization for rapid data analysis, making complex problems tractable.
A team of scientists has found that permafrost temperatures have warmed by as much as two degrees Celsius over the past 20-30 years. The expansion of the monitoring network allows for large-scale analysis and potential early warnings for policymakers on climate change impacts in permafrost regions.
A Brigham Young University study reveals that social connections, such as friends and family, significantly increase the odds of survival by 50 percent. The research analyzed data from 148 studies, showing that low social interaction is comparable to smoking or being an alcoholic in terms of risk.
The Fermilab experiments have excluded a quarter of the expected Higgs mass range, with a new mass range established at 158-175 GeV/c^2. The Standard Model predicts a mass range of 114-185 GeV/c^2.
A study by USC Marshall School of Business finds that luxury brands charge more for 'quieter' items with subtle logo placement and size, appealing to patricians. Counterfeiters predominantly copy lower-priced, louder luxury goods, while poseurs are more likely to express intent to purchase counterfeit bags.
A recent study found that data presented in frequency format elicits higher confidence and more accurate conclusions in consumers. In contrast, percentages appear easier for consumers to understand, but may lead to averaging errors. The results have practical implications for regulators trying to discourage smoking behavior.
The New York Center for Astrobiology will expand its research with a new NASA grant, searching for the building blocks of life beyond Earth. Researchers study the chemical and physical conditions on Earth that gave birth to life and apply this information to search for similar conditions elsewhere in our solar system.
Astronomers detected a record-breaking X-ray blast from beyond the Milky Way galaxy, temporarily blinding NASA's Swift space observatory. The burst, named GRB 100621A, was more than 140 times brighter than any continuous X-ray source in the sky.
Elke Rundensteiner, a WPI computer science professor, has received the HP Labs Innovation Research Award for her work on complex event stream analytics. The award provides funding for her project to develop advanced tools for extracting meaning from vast amounts of streaming data in real-time.
The Genomic SQueeZ (G-SQZ) compression technique developed by TGen can compress genomic sequencing data by up to 80 percent, reducing storage needs and costs. This technology allows for selective content access and maintaining the relative order of the data.
A study analyzed data on surgical care improvement measures and found that when considered as a composite infection-prevention score, these measures were associated with lower probabilities of postoperative infection. However, adherence to individual measures was not significantly linked to reduced risk of infection. The study suggests...
A UBC study found that men's strong sense of masculinity and commitment to their families can help them overcome depression and suicidal thoughts. The study suggests that connecting with others, including intimate partners and family, is crucial in regaining stability and securing emotional support.
Patients with stage II colon cancer treated after 1995 had longer time to recurrence, but improved overall survival. Stage III colon cancer patients treated after 1995 also showed improved overall survival without change in time to recurrence compared to those treated before 1995.
Use of vascular closure devices and anticoagulant bivalirudin significantly reduced bleeding rates in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Higher-risk patients were less likely to receive these treatments, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
A UBC study found significant regional variations in C-section and assisted vaginal delivery rates across British Columbia, which cannot be explained by medical indications. The researchers suggest potential reasons include differences in practitioners' responses to dystocia and resources available.
A study by psychologists at the University of Leicester identified characteristics of people prone to shoplifting, including males, unpleasant and antisocial individuals, and those with disorganized and unreliable personalities. Younger and outgoing individuals were more likely to engage in minor fraud.
Researchers identified a genetic variant in the ISL1 gene that strongly raises the risk of congenital heart disease, affecting multiple subtypes of the condition. The study provides new insights into the molecular basis of heart disease and may lead to better understanding and treatment options for children with CHD.
A team of ARS scientists used remote sensing tools to identify invasive Ashe juniper shrubs and trees in central Texas. The study found that the first 10 bands from a MNF transformation were the best for distinguishing Ashe juniper from other mixed woody species.
A nationwide smoking ban could save over 18,596 fewer hospitalizations for heart attack after one year of implementation, resulting in more than $92 million in savings. The study found that implementing a comprehensive smoking ban could lead to a 12% drop in heart attack admissions and a 11% reduction in heart attack rates.
A new study by University of Illinois labor expert John Dencker found that restructuring shifts workplace power towards firms, leading to performance-based bonuses that slow payroll growth. The shift creates fears of termination for managers, affecting their wages and career stability.
A Canadian study found that skin cancer rates in Alberta have decreased for men and stabilized for women over a 20-year period. The research suggests that strong skin cancer awareness campaigns may be contributing to this trend, which contrasts with the rising global incidence of skin cancer.
Researchers are developing tools to tackle complex problems in logistics planning, resource allocation and circuit design. By combining techniques from mathematics, statistics and computer science, they aim to create more efficient delivery systems for the Air Force.
Researchers at Kansas State University found that older drivers are more likely to be involved in severe daytime crashes, often resulting in injury or fatality. The study suggests that countermeasures such as improved road signs, left-turn arrows, and driver education can help reduce the number of crashes involving older drivers.
The study presents BioTorrents, a website that allows open access sharing of scientific data via BitTorrent. It features keyword searching, category browsing, and error checking for reliable transfers. The article discusses the implications of BioTorrents on file transfer challenges.
A large study of over 400,000 men and women found that high fruit and vegetable intake was associated with a small reduction in overall cancer risk. However, the findings suggest that any potential cancer-protective effect is modest at best.
A comprehensive study of mouse lemurs in Madagascar has identified a high diversity of population-level lineages, challenging traditional methods of species delimitation. The research uses multiple lines of evidence to recognize lineage diversity and presents the most thoroughly sampled species delimitation of mouse lemur ever performed.
The new center will provide timely data on prescriptions to doctors, pharmacies, and regulatory agencies, helping identify best practices in prescription monitoring. The initiative aims to reduce the serious epidemic of drug abuse, taking thousands of lives.
A Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute professor and his team are monitoring aftershocks in Chile following a massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake on Feb. 27. The 10-member team installed over 50 broadband seismometers to record seismic activity along a 500-kilometer zone, providing valuable data for understanding the earthquake's impact.
Researchers analyzed data from 147 countries from 1990-2007 and found that receipt of GAVI support accelerated Hib vaccine adoption by 63%, while neighboring countries' use accelerated it by 50%. High vaccine prices hindered adoption, with lack of stable financing policies having a more detrimental effect.
The study analyzed data from 147 countries to identify factors that influence the time taken to introduce routine vaccination. Vaccine price and GAVI eligibility were found to be associated with quicker decisions to adopt vaccination, speeding up the process by 63% and 50%, respectively. Meanwhile, Dr. Peter Barnes discusses the growin...
After the Sweet Sixteen round, a team's seeding becomes statistically insignificant in predicting its chances of winning. Teams that make it past this point can be predicted based on other factors such as player match-ups and style of play.
A University of Georgia study found that media exposure had no effect on correcting the misconception that Barack Obama was a Muslim during the 2008 presidential campaign. Approximately 20% of Americans believed this despite news stories and fact-checking efforts.
Researchers at NC State University developed a new analytical method to process large amounts of information efficiently. The algorithm allows for targeted collection of relevant data, minimizing errors and reducing data storage needs.
Two papers investigate surgical provision in eight African district hospitals, revealing low levels of care, few beds, and no specialist surgeons or anaesthetists. The findings highlight a shocking lack of surgical capacity in these settings, with significant implications for healthcare planning in Africa.
A study of Medicare data found that elderly ICU patients who survive hospital discharge have a high rate of death in the following years, particularly those receiving mechanical ventilation. Discharge to skilled care facilities also increases long-term mortality.
Physicians can deny patient requests for antidepressants using patient-centered approaches, such as exploring the context of the request and recommending alternative diagnoses. These strategies are associated with higher visit satisfaction rates.
Researchers analyzed data from over 30,000 participants to investigate the genetic basis of tinnitus. The study found low correlations between family members and no strong evidence of inherited tinnitus.
A new study analyzing the impact of hand-held cell phone legislation on driving safety concludes that usage-ban laws had more of an impact in densely populated urban areas with a higher number of licensed drivers than in rural areas. The study found lower fatal accident rates and personal injury accidents in counties with high driver d...
Research analyzed plant data from 1850s to 2010s, showing that non-native species thrive during climate change due to flexible flowering times. Invasive plants dominate, threatening biodiversity and ecosystem function.
A new study published in The Journal of Law and Economics found that physicians cut back their workload by almost two hours each week when the expected liability risk increases by 10 percent. This represents a significant impact, equivalent to one out of every 35 physicians retiring without a replacement.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School found a significant decline in US birth weights over the past 15 years, with full-term births averaging 79 grams less than expected. This trend is concerning, as low birth weight has been linked to increased risk of death and chronic diseases in adulthood.
A new study from North Carolina State University finds that a 360-degree review system can effectively evaluate judges while maintaining their independence. The system, used in six model states, provides both subjective feedback and objective data to identify inefficiencies and questionable legal reasoning.
A study published in International Journal of Public Policy suggests that an evidence-based approach to medicine can increase quality and efficiency of healthcare systems. This approach emphasizes using medical research literature to inform clinical decisions.
Researchers found that students who listen to music with more references to marijuana are nearly twice as likely to have used the drug. The study suggests a real link between marijuana lyrics and use, but notes that other high-risk behaviors were not associated with increased exposure.
A Carnegie Mellon researcher notes that data-mining techniques are increasingly being applied to personal activities and movements, raising concerns about privacy. Technical means can help limit these risks, but a public discussion about data collection, ownership, and privacy is also necessary.
Researchers have found regular patterns in small tremors between episodic tremor and slip events, suggesting a megathrust earthquake could occur closer to the Puget Sound region than previously thought. This new evidence is helping scientists refine building codes and better understand the hazard from a great quake.