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Toward automated animal identification in wildlife research

A new method uses machine learning to automate the process of preparing digital photos for analysis, allowing researchers to identify individual animals by their unique markings more efficiently. The system will accelerate studies on giraffe populations and can be applied to other species with similar identifying patterns.

SourcePenn State·JournalEcological Informatics·DateFeb 11, 2019

How the brain learns during sleep

Researchers found that brain activity patterns during sleep can reveal which memories are stored and which forgotten. The brain reactivates memory traces during certain sleep phases, especially when gamma band activity from deep processing is reactivated during ripples in the hippocampus, leading to later recall of images.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 5, 2018

Ecology and AI

Researchers from Harvard University and others demonstrated that deep learning can identify animal images with 99.3% accuracy, automating a laborious process. The technology has the potential to revolutionize fields like wildlife ecology and conservation.

SourceHarvard University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 10, 2018

Man vs. machine?

Recent studies by Case Western Reserve University's Anant Madabhushi show that his diagnostic imaging lab's 'deep learning' computers can accurately diagnose heart failure and detect various cancers. The machines offer valuable tools for pathologists and radiologists, helping them become more efficient in their work.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateApr 30, 2018

Learning to see

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital developed an artificial intelligence technique, AUTOMAP, that enables the production of high-quality images in less time and with lower doses. This approach uses deep learning to automatically determine the correct image reconstruction algorithm, allowing for instant feedback during scanning.

Technique to see objects hidden around corners

The Stanford team has developed an efficient algorithm to process final images from non-line-of-sight imaging, overcoming a significant challenge in capturing 3-D structure of hidden objects. The system can produce images of out-of-view objects in under a second and is computationally efficient enough to run on regular laptops.

SourceStanford University·JournalNature·DateMar 5, 2018

New lensless camera creates detailed 3-D images without scanning

Researchers developed a compact and inexpensive camera that produces high-resolution 3D images from a single 2D image. The DiffuserCam uses computational imaging to reconstruct 100 million voxels from a 1.3-megapixel image, with potential applications in brain research, self-driving cars, and machine learning.

SourceOptica·JournalOptica·DateDec 21, 2017

Stimuli fading away en route to consciousness

A recent study by the University of Bonn investigates how some signals dissipate along the processing path to conscious perception. The researchers found that the distinction between conscious and unconscious processing follows significantly further down the processing stream than many researchers have been suspecting.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalCurrent Biology·DateSep 22, 2017

Switching oxygen on and off

Researchers at TU Wien have successfully switched individual oxygen molecules between a reactive and unreactive state using a force microscope. This process enables new possibilities for investigating the inner workings of photocatalysts.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 14, 2017

Teach yourself everyday happiness with imagery training

Researchers found that self-guided emotional imagery training can improve emotional wellbeing in healthy individuals by reducing depressive symptoms and increasing satisfaction with life. The technique was also associated with changes in brain activity, including increased connectivity between image processing networks.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Human Neuroscience·DateFeb 24, 2017

System automatically detects cracks in nuclear power plants

A new automated system, called CRAQ, detects cracks in the steel components of nuclear power plants using an advanced algorithm and machine learning technique. The system outperformed two others under development, providing more robust results by processing multiple video frames and filtering out falsely detected cracks.

SourcePurdue University·JournalComputer-Aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering·DateFeb 17, 2017

Astrophotography as a gateway to science

UC Riverside scientists created astrophotography classes for non-science students, resulting in improved understanding of telescopes and cameras, as well as renewed interest in astronomy. The cost-effective courses also encouraged students to take up astrophotography as a hobby, opening the path to future amateur astronomers.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalInternational Journal of STEM Education·DateDec 21, 2016

How visual attention selects important information

Researchers at Tohoku University found that visual attention has multiple functions and stages, including early visual processing and selective extraction of information. The study proposes a model of spatial attention that can predict different attention effects for various visual processes, which is useful for complex tasks like driv...

SourceTohoku University·JournalScientific Reports·DateNov 14, 2016

Alternating periods of high- and low-entropy neural ensemble activity during image processing in the primary visual cortex of rats

The study reveals alternating periods of high- and low-wavelet entropy (WS) in rat V1 during image processing, indicating dynamic LFPs with synchronized and complexly ordered activity. The parameters RWE and WS quantify neural population activity characteristics that may help decipher visual processing and object recognition.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalThe Open Biomedical Engineering Journal·DateJul 15, 2016

RedEye could let your phone see 24-7

Researchers at Rice University developed RedEye, a technology that can provide computers with continuous vision, enabling wearables to see and remember what their owners need. By analyzing analog signals in real-time, RedEye improves energy efficiency and presents unique privacy advantages.

Nuclear pores captured on film

For the first time, researchers have filmed 'living' nuclear pore complexes in action using an ultra-fast atomic force microscope. The study reveals the dynamic behavior of molecular 'tentacles' inside the pore, which regulate the transport of molecules into and out of the cell nucleus.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateMay 2, 2016

Fish-eyed lens cuts through the dark

University of Wisconsin-Madison engineers developed a biologically inspired artificial eye that can see in the dark using a lobster-inspired fish-eye design. The system improves image-taking through lenses rather than sensor components, resulting in fourfold sensitivity improvement.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 15, 2016

New microwave imaging approach opens a nanoscale view on processes in liquids

Researchers at NIST and ORNL have developed a new microwave imaging technique that allows for the visualization of processes occurring at boundaries between liquids and solids. This approach enables the study of technologically and medically important processes without damaging samples or interfering with the process being studied.

Mammalian fertilization, caught on tape

Researchers develop a novel microfluidic device called the 'IVF chip' that enables high-resolution imaging of the initial steps of fertilization. The device allows scientists to observe the fusion of sperm and egg, membrane remodeling, and sperm DNA incorporation into the egg.