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New method could help estimate wildlife disease spread

A new method can help estimate the prevalence of disease in free-ranging wildlife by accounting for animal clustering. This approach may reduce the number of samples needed to detect a disease. The researchers focused on Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in deer, which tends to cluster in family groups, making this method particularly useful.

SourceCornell University·JournalJournal of Agricultural Biological and Environmental Statistics·DateDec 18, 2023

What’s wrong in statistics

A new paper proposes an itemized checklist to guide researchers in publishing analyses using complex sample survey data. The checklist, PRICSSA, consists of 17 important items to report for any analyses conducted on complex survey data. This reform aims to increase transparency and make analytic mistakes easier to spot.

SourceOxford University Press USA·JournalJournal of Survey Statistics and Methodology·TypeLiterature review·DateApr 26, 2023

MRI surveillance for postsurgical musculoskeletal soft-tissue sarcomas: AJR systematic review and meta-analysis

A systematic review and meta-analysis found that MRI-based surveillance after surgical treatment can detect clinically occult local recurrences, potentially improving patient outcomes. The study included 19 studies and showed a significant association between high-intensity surveillance and the detection of local recurrences.

SourceAmerican Roentgen Ray Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Roentgenology·TypeSystematic review·DateFeb 1, 2023

Stock running low? Consumers want to know

Researchers found that consumers are 25% less likely to purchase low-availability items when told supply is low, resulting in a 5.3% increase in revenue per customer. Online retailers can benefit from this strategy by managing customers' expectations and improving decision-making.

SourceBoston College·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 5, 2022

Scent dogs detect coronavirus reliably from skin swabs

A recent study by the University of Helsinki found that scent detection dogs can accurately identify individuals with a coronavirus infection from skin swabs. The dogs' sensitivity and specificity were 92%, with only small differences in accuracy observed between individual dogs.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalBMJ Global Health·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMay 17, 2022

A better statistical estimation of known Syrian war victims

Researchers from Rice University and Duke University developed a new method to accurately estimate the number of identified victims killed in the Syrian civil war. Using 'hashing with statistical estimation,' they produced real-time estimates with a lower margin of error than existing methods.

SourceRice University·JournalThe Annals of Applied Statistics·DateJun 5, 2018

Mathematical theorem finds gerrymandering in Pennsylvania congressional district maps

A new mathematical theorem developed by Carnegie Mellon University and University of Pittsburgh mathematicians proves that Pennsylvania's congressional district maps are likely the result of gerrymandering. The researchers used a Markov chain to analyze the characteristics of the current map, comparing it to randomly generated typical ...

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 28, 2017

What makes your voice yours?

UCLA researchers Patricia Keating and Jody Kreiman analyzed recordings from 50 women to identify acoustic parameters distinguishing their voices. The study aims to understand which characteristics make a speaker's voice recognizable and how much change is perceptible to listeners.

Sleep apnea linked to depression in men

Severe obstructive sleep apnea and excessive daytime sleepiness are associated with an increased risk of depression in men. A large community-based study found that previously undiagnosed severe OSA and EDS were significantly linked to depression prevalence and incidence in a population of Australian men.

Vision system for household robots

Researchers at MIT develop an algorithm that allows household robots to recognize four times as many objects as traditional methods, reducing misidentifications. The new approach uses a representative sampling technique, sampling hypotheses across successive images, and evaluating them more efficiently.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalThe International Journal of Robotics Research·DateJan 12, 2015

Non-smoking hotel rooms still expose occupants to tobacco smoke

A study found that non-smoking hotel rooms can be polluted with third-hand smoke, even if the hotel has a partial smoking ban. Non-smokers who stayed at these hotels had higher levels of nicotine and other pollutants in their urine and finger wipes compared to those staying in total smoking banned hotels.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalTobacco Control·DateMay 13, 2013

Stroke symptoms common among general population

A large national study found that 18 percent of adults without a history of stroke report having had at least one symptom. Brief physical examinations revealed undiagnosed or silent strokes in many individuals. African Americans and those with lower incomes were more likely to have had these symptoms.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of Internal Medicine·DateOct 9, 2006