Research on making sense of scientific and medical data. Covers AI error-correction, single-cell search engines, optical computing, and measurement reliability.
A study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons found that the ACS NSQIP is a powerful tool for assessing outcomes of uncommon, high-risk surgical procedures like pancreatic necrosectomy. Patients undergoing this procedure had better outcomes than predicted, with lower mortality rates and less postoperative morbidity.
A study published in PLoS Medicine found that drivers with tighter glycemic control were more likely to be involved in motor vehicle crashes. The research suggests that a patient's HbA1c level is not necessary or sufficient for determining fitness-to-drive, questioning current traffic laws.
A team of researchers led by Tufts University Professor Gregory Crane will create a database to track topics in primary and secondary Greek and Latin sources. The system uses data mining to determine patterns and connections, enabling undergraduate research and critical thinking.
A study by Sheryl Thorburn found that women with lower incomes were more likely to experience insurance-based discrimination, particularly among those with Medicaid coverage. The analysis of 1998-2001 data showed that women with incomes below $15,000 reported the highest rates of discrimination.
A new study by MSU sociologist Hui Liu finds that widowed people in the US experience a higher mortality rate, especially among white women. The study reveals a growing mortality gap between married and unmarried individuals, primarily due to loss of social support and economic resources.
Despite increased availability of prescription antiplatelet medications, the overall use of blood-thinning agents among stroke survivors has plateaued. Aspirin remains the predominant agent used for secondary stroke prevention, with no improvements in antithrombotic agent usage over a 7-year period.
The PLoS Genetics special collection presents groundbreaking research on maize genome architecture, revealing new insights into centromeres, transposons, microRNAs, and more. The studies also explore the role of copy number variation and presence/absence variation in shaping maize phenotypes.
Human performance experts Peter Weyand and Matthew Bundle conclude that Oscar Pistorius' artificial lower limbs provide a significant competitive advantage in sprint running. The blades allow him to reposition his limbs 15% more rapidly, reducing muscle forces required for sprinting by less than half.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that migraine headaches are associated with more than two-fold higher chances of ischemic stroke. Women with migraines have a particularly high risk, with a 2.9 times higher risk compared to men.
Research published in PLoS Medicine found associations between local rainfall and temperature with cases of dengue fever, but no significant link with El Niño-Southern Oscillation. Large outbreaks occur every few years in many tropical countries, with temperature and rainfall varying strongly on an annual scale.
Researchers from American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons found shock-wave therapy equally effective as surgery for healing nonunions. The study showed that extracorporeal shock-wave therapy stimulated bone healing within six months and provided comparable outcomes to surgery even two years later.
A recent study found that undocumented foreign-born Latinos have lower levels of usual source of care, blood pressure checks, and cholesterol screenings compared to US-born Latinos. Perceived quality of care is also significantly impacted by immigration status.
A recent study published in PLoS ONE found that French brown bears are at risk of extinction due to a lack of females. The researchers suggest that relocating new bears could not only boost the population size but also reverse some of the causes of the decline by introducing more females.
A new study reveals a 71% increase in Down syndrome pregnancies and births over 20 years, largely due to women delaying childbearing. Despite this rise, improvements in prenatal screening have maintained the number of babies born with the condition at around 750 per year.
The FASTSAT mission will analyze the Earth's outer atmosphere with three NASA-built instruments: Thermosphere Temperature Imager (TTI), Mini-ME neutral atom imager, and Plasma and Impedence Spectrum Analyzer (PISA). The instruments will provide critical data for global space weather prediction, improving communication and navigation.
A new Harvard study reveals that uninsured adults with diabetes or high cholesterol are more likely to be misdiagnosed and undertreated. The researchers found significant gaps in care for these conditions, with the uninsured being more likely to experience poor blood pressure control and inadequate treatment.
A study by Professor Diego Becerril Ruiz found that 79% of Spanish people think divorce is the best solution when a couple can't solve marital problems. The country ranks second in social acceptation of divorce, after Brazil, and shows an increase in divorce acceptance since the 1990s.
A study published in JAMA found that attending physicians working nighttime hours did not have a significantly increased rate of complications for procedures performed the next day. However, having less than six hours of sleep opportunity between procedures was associated with an increased rate of surgical complications.
The San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) is part of a four-year project called 'FutureGrid' that aims to develop and test new approaches to parallel, grid, and cloud computing. Researchers will collaborate to create an experimental high-performance grid test-bed, enabling the detection of bugs in software before production.
A study by Pascale Quester and Alexandre Steyer found that consumers seek variety initially, then conform to group norms, before re-embracing individuality when a choice becomes dominant. In a restaurant setting, this pattern was observed with customers opting for alternative drinks when others chose the same option.
A recent study published in Archives of Surgery found that individuals with ethanol in their bloodstreams are less likely to die following a moderate to severe head injury. The study analyzed data from 38,019 patients and found a significant decrease in mortality rates among those with alcohol in their bloodstreams.
Researchers found that zero tolerance laws had no effect on the number of nighttime accidents involving drivers under 21. Instead, other factors such as heavy drinking and mild drinking were consistent across all accident types.
A new study finds that chronic job insecurity has a stronger negative impact on worker health than smoking or hypertension. Persistent job insecurity weakens bonds between employers and employees, fueling perceptions of insecurity.
New research from the University of Arizona found that slowly moving faults, like the Alto Tiberina in Italy, can help prevent large earthquakes. The study used geodesy to measure rock movements and revealed that the fault is actively slipping at a rate of approximately one-tenth of an inch per year.
Hip fracture rates declined by 31.8% in females and 25% in males between 1985 and 2005, with the largest decrease among individuals aged 55-64 years. The reasons for this decline are unclear, but factors such as overweight and obesity may contribute.
A study by Purdue University researchers found that individuals with high neuroticism levels are more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors such as smoking and heavy drinking. These behaviors can contribute to an increased risk of mortality, making it essential to develop targeted interventions for this population.
A recent study emphasizes the importance of evaluating eHealth interventions to improve the quality and safety of healthcare. Aziz Sheikh and Lorraine Catwell from The University of Edinburgh highlight the need for continuous systemic evaluation of eHealth solutions to address potential risks and challenges.
Researchers at the University of Rochester have found evidence that changes in the net flow of heat into and out of the oceans correlate with past climate anomalies, including abrupt shifts in global temperatures and unusual land temperature fluctuations. The study, which analyzed high-quality data sets, suggests these oceanic shifts s...
Companies with female board members fare worse in stock market, but perform equally well on other measures. Share values decline after women are appointed to boards.
A new study found that treelines are not universally responding to climate warming by advancing, as expected. However, the research revealed an unexpected association between winter temperature warming and treeline advance, contradicting previous views on summer temperatures being the primary control.
The ongoing Somali civil conflict has severe consequences on public health, particularly in southern Somalia. Researchers from PLoS Medicine present evidence for concerted health interventions and access to food aid. In a related debate, experts discuss approaches to reviewing complex health interventions.
Researchers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa conclude that shark cage diving enterprises in Hawaii have a negligible effect on public safety. The study analyzed logbook data from two Oahu operations and found no increase in shark attacks since cage diving began.
A large analysis of six studies found that consistent condom use reduced the risk of acquiring herpes simplex virus 2 by 30%. The risk of infection decreased with increased condom use during anal or vaginal sex, and there were no significant differences in protection between men and women.
The development of genome annotation standards is crucial for advancing microbial genomics, but a lack of standards hinders comparisons and discoveries. Kyrpides suggests several innovative approaches to ease the data processing bottleneck, including proxy approaches and pan-genome representations.
A recent study found that individuals with uncertain opinions tend to avoid contradictory information, while those with confident beliefs are more likely to seek out opposing views. Certain factors, such as personal values and confidence in one's own ideas, can influence an individual's willingness to consider alternative perspectives.
A new study indicates that bone-morphogenetic protein (BMP) is used in 25% of spinal fusion procedures and is associated with a higher rate of complications and greater hospital charges. The use of BMP is also linked to increased risk of wound-related complications, dysphagia, and hoarseness.
Danielle Varda, a Colorado professor, received the Article-of-the-Year Award for her article on public health collaborations, which analyzed data to advance understanding of health systems. The recognition highlights her contribution to the field of Public Health Systems Research (PHSR) and its potential to improve population health.
A study found that over 20,000 European patients travel across borders for fertility treatment annually, citing quality concerns and legal restrictions. The majority of respondents were seeking assisted reproduction treatment, with countries like Italy, Germany, and France having the highest number of cross-border patients.
A study by University of Minnesota researcher Iris Borowsky found that one in seven adolescents believe they will die before age 35, predicting increased risk-taking behaviors. Those who believed they'd die young were more likely to engage in risky behaviors and have poor health outcomes.
According to experts, a nationwide effort can accelerate the decline of tobacco use in the next 50 years. Researchers analyzed data from the 1960s to the present and found that smoking rates have declined steadily, dropping from 42% to 20% over six decades.
A new study found that bariatric surgery nearly doubles the expected risk of fractures, especially hand and foot fractures, in patients who underwent weight loss surgery to treat medically complicated obesity. The researchers analyzed data from 97 patients with an average age of 44 years and found a total of 31 fractures after surgery.
A new study by North Carolina State University researchers found significant flaws in XBRL filings submitted voluntarily by top 500 companies. The study warns that if upcoming filings do not improve accuracy, the XBRL program's credibility will be undermined, affecting its effectiveness.
A new technique has been developed to evaluate basketball players' performance, using mathematical models that consider multiple factors such as points scored, rebounds, assists, and relative importance. The results show that certain players excel in specific positions, highlighting the need for more nuanced evaluation methods.
According to a new study, nearly 952,000 California adults seek medical, dental, or prescription services in Mexico each year. The primary reasons for this trend include cost and lack of insurance.
The study found that 35% of U.S. adults aged 40 and older have vestibular dysfunction, which can increase the risk of falling. Individuals with vestibular dysfunction are more likely to report dizziness and a history of falls.
Taking folic acid supplements for at least a year before conception reduces the risk of premature birth by 70% and 50%, according to a large cohort study. The findings suggest that folic acid supplementation may be an effective prevention method for premature birth.
A study published in Menopause found a significant link between hot flashes and lower bone mineral density in women. Postmenopausal and premenopausal women with vasomotor symptoms exhibited lower lumbar and total hip bone mineral density compared to those without VMS.
A new study has found a positive association between obesity and allergies in children and adolescents, with obese kids being 26% more likely to have allergies. The study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and found that IgE levels were higher among obese children.
Scientists from the University of Miami Rosenstiel School and University of Oxford have analyzed data to identify details of the major plate boundary event that destroyed 90% of Pisco, Peru. The study reveals maximum intensity and damage occur few tens of kilometers south of the epicenter.
The system gathers detailed info about weather and road conditions from moving vehicles, providing critical alerts to drivers. The goal is to reduce crashes, injuries, and deaths by giving drivers timely warnings about nearby hazards.
State laws prohibiting underage drinking save 732 lives annually in the US, while 'use and lose' laws could add an additional 165 lives. The study found a direct relationship between beer consumption per capita and youth crash rates, with higher consumption leading to higher youth crashes.
The analysis reveals highly polarised gamma rays, providing insight into the central engine's magnetic field structure. The team favours a synchrotron model, suggesting that the jet lifted the magnetic field into space.
Researchers created a method called Minimum Mutual Information (MinMI) to understand how brain cells process information. The tool can identify which neurons encode specific stimuli, such as facial reactions or movement, and how they collaborate.
At-risk teens are more likely to seriously consider suicide if a friend of a friend attempts it, but holding summer jobs can be a deterrent. Summer employment is thought to create self-esteem while reducing isolation and substance abuse, and can even prevent the spread of suicidal thoughts among friends.
The Einstein@Home project is analyzing Arecibo radio data to find binary systems consisting of neutron stars or black holes. The large computational capabilities of the project will enable detection of pulsars in binary systems with orbital periods as short as 11 minutes.
A study analyzing 28 soybean experiments found no significant yield advantage for early plantings, regardless of region or variety. However, delaying plantings beyond the critical date in late May or early June led to a substantial loss of yields, suggesting producers should prioritize timely planting.
A team of scientists from McMaster University and around the world analyzed rabies transmission data and found evidence for low levels of transmission, suggesting that elimination of canine rabies is a realistic goal. Achieving vaccination coverage of 60% or more in dog populations in Africa would be feasible through annual campaigns.
A study led by UCF scientist Wade Winterhalter uses cricket reproduction patterns to predict the impact of global warming on humans. The research combines global warming models with biological predictions, simulating daily and seasonal temperature changes in crickets over a six-degree Celsius increase.
Primary care physicians working in clinics with a high proportion of minority patients report less access to resources and higher levels of burnout. These challenges contribute to the complexities of providing quality care to complex, underserved patient populations.
The system will enable researchers from seven disciplines to perform virtual experiments and address open problems in their fields, including infectious disease dynamics, material development, and human interactions. The instrument is expected to promote technology transfer and enhance the diversity of computational science talent.