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Studying water quality with satellites and public data

A team from Colorado State University has created a novel dataset, AquaSat, by merging large public datasets of water quality observations with satellite imagery. This 'symphony of data' provides over 6 million water quality observations, unlocking powerful new applications in remote sensing of water quality. The study aims to improve ...

SourceColorado State University·JournalWater Resources Research·DateDec 4, 2019

Peripheral artery disease risk hinges on health factors and demographics, including race

A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association estimates that black men have a 30% lifetime risk of peripheral artery disease (PAD), while Hispanic men have a 22% risk. The researchers developed a risk calculator to identify high-risk patients who may benefit from PAD diagnostic screening.

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·DateSep 10, 2019

Earthquake symmetry

A recent study analyzed 100,000 localized seismic events to search for patterns in the data. Researchers found that earthquakes of differing magnitudes share more similarities than previously thought, suggesting predictable characteristics may aid forecasting.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNature·DateSep 4, 2019

Blue Brain finds how neurons in the mouse neocortex form billions of synaptic connections

The Blue Brain researchers have generated statistical instances of the micro-connectome of 10 million neurons, a model spanning five orders of magnitude and containing 88 billion synaptic connections. This model reveals a surprisingly complex structure at cellular resolution, tying together neurons in different regions and at opposite ...

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 29, 2019

Is pollution linked to psychiatric disorders?

A new study suggests a possible link between environmental pollution and an increase in psychiatric disorders. Poor air quality was associated with higher rates of bipolar disorder, major depression, schizophrenia, and personality disorders in both US and Danish populations.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateAug 20, 2019

Scientists assess reliability of multiple precipitable water vapor datasets in Central Asia

Researchers evaluated satellite and reanalysis PWV datasets against radiosonde observations in Central Asia, finding ERA5 and MERRA2 perform better in climatological characteristics and interannual variations. The study provides valuable information for future research on water cycle in Central Asia.

Seeing how computers 'think' helps humans stump machines and reveals AI weaknesses

Researchers from the University of Maryland developed a novel approach to generate questions that challenge AI language models. By collaborating with humans and computers, they created a dataset of over 1,200 computer-stumping questions that revealed six different language phenomena consistently stumping computers. This work provides i...

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalTransactions of the Association for Computational Linguistics·DateAug 6, 2019

Rush unveils quality composite rank

Researchers at Rush University Medical Center have developed a new composite ranking system that aggregates data from five leading hospital rating systems into a single score. This system aims to provide consumers with a clear and easily understandable measure of hospital quality, helping them make informed decisions about their care.

SourceRush University Medical Center·JournalAmerican Journal of Medical Quality·DateJul 12, 2019

Harnessing reliability for neuroscience research

The neuroimaging community has made significant strides in collecting large-scale datasets, but many contain insufficient data for reliable measures of brain connectivity. Increasing reliability can dramatically reduce sample size requirements, improving the field's ability to detect effects and address reproducibility concerns.

SourceThe Child Mind Institute·JournalNature Human Behaviour·DateJul 1, 2019

Scientists stack algorithms to improve predictions of yield-boosting crop traits

A team of researchers from the University of Illinois has developed a new technique to predict high-yielding crop traits by stacking six machine learning algorithms, improving predictive power by up to 15 percent. The approach empowers scientists to leverage computational analysis to translate their datasets into beneficial results.

Release of solar panel dataset helps cities make power grids more safe, reliable

Engineers have released a freely available quality-controlled dataset from 1,287 residential installations across Australia to improve solar forecasting and grid management. The dataset provides six months' worth of measurements from three different cities, allowing for controlled analysis and spatial analysis.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy·DateMay 28, 2019

Tracking urban gentrification, one building at a time

A new deep-mapping computer model detects visual changes to individual properties, allowing researchers to track gentrification in neighborhoods and cities. The model achieved 95% accuracy in detecting gentrification indicators, revealing detailed maps of spatial evolution of gentrification through time.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMar 13, 2019