What happens to stolen guns?
According to Philip Cook's analysis, gun thefts represent only about one percent of all gun transactions in the US. In Chicago, only a tiny proportion of crime guns were ever reported stolen to the Police Department.
Data Availability
Articles tagged with Data Availability
Census data can level the playing field for small businesses
A University of Waterloo study found that census data can aid in decision-making for small businesses, helping them avoid costly mistakes. By combining public and proprietary data, researchers identified geographic hot spots and cold spots related to consumer spending habits.
Dispatch from the field II: Students describe an elusive spider while stationed in Borneo
Students from a field course in Borneo successfully described a male spider species of the genus Opadometa sarawakensis, with striking orange, gray, black, and silver colors. They used smartphones paired with headlights to gather data and took advantage of an open-access workflow to compile their manuscript within a month.
Crabs in your computer
A new study provides three-dimensional visual data from hermit crabs using 3D microCT scanning technology, making it easier to examine and compare specimens for taxonomic research. The dataset is now available for download and includes interactive web-based viewers and 3D printable file formats.
Improving the quality of high altitude medicine
The new guidelines aim to standardize data capture in high altitude research, enabling researchers to replicate studies and compare findings. The guidelines provide a structured approach for collecting data on factors such as local conditions, study participants' characteristics, and medical history.
Can social media data be used to predict threats or identify fake news?
Penn State professor Conrad Tucker is using social media data to predict catastrophic events and identify fake news. His project aims to create algorithms that increase the reliability of publicly available sources.
What effect did the ACA have on out-of-pocket and premium spending?
The Affordable Care Act was associated with decreased out-of-pocket spending among low-income Americans due to cost-sharing and premium subsidies. However, premium spending increased mainly among higher-income individuals, while combined spending decreased only in the lowest-income group.
NASA sees developing system 96W affecting central Philippines
System 96W, a developing area of tropical low pressure, is expected to affect the central Philippines. The storm's western quadrant has moved over the east-central Philippines, with multiple satellite images showing its elongated shape and several areas of thunderstorms.
Army researcher earns best paper award at internet conference
A US Army Research Laboratory researcher has won a best paper award at an internet conference in Thailand for his work on NDN fuzzy interest forwarding. The technique enables discovery and retrieval of data using approximate knowledge of the data namespace, alleviating the need for exacting name matching.
Mass killings happen randomly, yet rate has remained steady, study finds
A new study by University of Illinois researchers found that mass killings in the US have remained steady over the past decade, with no significant increase in frequency or clustering. The study's authors suggest that a robust response system and resiliency in infrastructure are key to minimizing the impact of such events.
Congressional redistricting less contentious when resolved using computer algorithm
Researchers developed an algorithm to generate contiguous district shapes, balancing population and political affiliation. The tool enables state legislatures to explore options in a transparent and efficient manner, promoting fairness and reducing partisan biases.
Unplanned Fox News viewing influences likelihood of voting for Republican presidential candidates
A new study in the American Economic Review found that viewers who stumble upon Fox News first while channel surfing are more likely to vote for a Republican presidential candidate. The study used voter records and survey data to compare individuals from different cable news channel positions, finding a significant association between ...
Study identifies methods for preventing overcrowding in emergency rooms
A new study has identified four key strategies for preventing overcrowding in emergency rooms, including the involvement of executive leadership and a data-driven approach. High-performing hospitals use coordinated strategies, gather data to adjust operations in real-time, and hold staff accountable to reduce crowding.
Effects of soil and drainage on the savanna vegetation in the northern Brazilian Amazonia
Researchers investigated hydro-edaphic conditions in two savanna areas, sampling 20 permanent plots and classifying 128 plant species into 34 families. The study highlights the importance of conservation in this ecosystem, which has been rapidly modified by agribusiness.
UK Biobank partners with the EGA
The UK Biobank is distributing its 500,000-person dataset via the European Genome-phenome Archive (EGA), a resource developed by EMBL-EBI and CRG in Barcelona. This move aims to enable researchers to study human disease causes with maximum efficiency.
New data, advanced modeling techniques suggest extreme coastal sea levels more likely to occur
A new international study using advanced modeling techniques predicts that extreme sea levels will occur more frequently, causing significant damage and loss of life. The researchers found that regions such as the US west coast and large parts of Europe and Australia are particularly threatened by 2050.
A unique data center for cosmological simulations
A unique data center for cosmological simulations, Cosmowebportal, has been initiated by astrophysicists from TUM and LRZ. The facility pools the results of the Magneticum Pathfinder simulations, allowing scientists to explore and analyze the universe's evolution.
Study: Most state pension plans paper over unfunded liabilities
A study finds that many state pension plans use open-ended amortization to delay payments, making their financial condition appear better than it is. This practice exacerbates funding shortfalls and increases the risk of insufficient funds to pay pension obligations.
Understanding river thermal landscapes
Researchers are creating a holistic view of river thermal regimes using measurements over time and space, enabling more effective management and conservation efforts. The incorporation of these data has significant implications for the future of river science.
Extinction risk for many species vastly underestimated, study suggests
A new study reveals that species' geographic ranges are systematically overestimated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), leading to an underestimation of extinction risk. The research provides a formula to estimate more accurate species ranges, suggesting that at least 10 out of 18 bird species should have the...
Differences in sex and running ability influence declines in marathon performance, study finds
A study published in PLOS ONE found that marathon performance decline begins at around 35 years old, with top runners experiencing a slowdown of two minutes per year. Average runners start to experience a decline at age 50, with women having a slightly faster rate of decline.
Special issue: Prediction
This special issue of Science explores advances in forecasting policy, political violence, human behavior, and election predictions. Researchers unveil a modeling technique that can predict election outcomes with high accuracy, finding strong correlations between polling data and presidential election results.
Women, Minorities and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering report released
The 2017 report reveals underrepresentation of these groups in S&E education and employment, despite parity in educational attainment for women. The NSF aims to broaden participation through programs like ADVANCE, LSAMP, and NSF INCLUDES, providing valuable data for policy-making.
Milestone for the analysis of human proteomes
A major milestone in proteomics research has been achieved with the creation of a vast library of over 330,000 synthetic peptides representing all canonical human proteins. This achievement is expected to enhance protein identification and quantification by alleviating current issues in this field.
Hospital-led interventions associated with significant reduction in cesarean rate
A new study at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center found that hospital-led interventions significantly reduced the Cesarean delivery rate from 34.8% to 21.2% over a seven-year period. The interventions included quality improvement measures such as standardized protocols, increased provider education and revised guidelines.
Left wingers twice as likely to punish companies for tax avoidance, study finds
A recent study published in Journal of Business Research found that left wing consumers are twice as likely to punish companies for tax avoidance. The study revealed a significant decrease in purchase intentions among left wingers, with an average drop of 16%, compared to 8% among right wingers.
Princeton-led team finds new method to improve predictions
A Princeton-led team has created a new measure called the influence score, which can effectively differentiate between noisy and predictive variables in big data. This approach significantly improves prediction rates in various fields, including breast cancer diagnosis, terrorism, and financial markets.
UT Dallas researchers examine construction accidents in Gulf region
A UT Dallas study found that construction firms in the Gulf region operate with limited safety regulations or enforcement, leading to a high risk of accidents among migrant workers. The study identified inadequate training, language barriers, and a lack of effective communication as key causes of these accidents.
First feasibility study of the ESMO-MCBS scale in rare tumor entities
The ESMO-MCBS scale has been successfully applied to rare tumor entities, revealing its potential to quantify the clinical benefit of certain drugs. The tool was particularly effective in highlighting the benefits of new immunomodulatory treatments.
Trauma patient deaths peak at 2 weeks
Researchers found that patients with lower severity trauma have peaks in mortality probability around 14 and 21 days after admission. The study used the largest trauma database in Europe to analyze 165,559 trauma cases, including 19,289 with unknown outcomes.
The push for more clinical research data sharing is paying off
The Yale Open Data Access (YODA) Project has made significant progress in accelerating clinical trial data sharing, enabling greater access to high-quality medical research. The project's independent scientific reviews have ensured fair judgment and decision-making authority over data release.
More is better when it comes to online product selection
Research suggests that online product selection leads to increased customer spending, with popular and niche items generating significant revenue for retailers. Customers spend almost 11% more on main offerings and 250% more on hard-to-find niche items compared to catalog shoppers.
New study uses computer learning to provide quality control for genetic databases
A new study uses computer learning to create a standardized atlas that can automatically annotate samples, including lost metadata such as tissue type. By combining data from over 7,000 samples and 200 labs, the work represents a way to leverage publically available 'omics data while improving quality control.
Surgical expenses cause financial catastrophe for millions each year
Direct medical costs of surgery put an estimated 43.9% of the world's population at risk of financial catastrophe. Every year, approximately 30 million individuals face financial ruin and 11 million fall below poverty lines due to surgical expenses.
Stanford researchers calculate groundwater levels from satellite data
A new computer algorithm enables scientists to use satellite data to determine groundwater levels across larger areas than ever before. The technique, developed at Stanford University, could lead to better models of groundwater flow and monitoring in agricultural regions. The team was able to calculate surface deformations and groundwa...
'Suggestive evidence' for link between air pollution and heightened stillbirth risk
A systematic review of research published up to 2015 found an association between exposure to air pollution and a heightened risk of stillbirth. Specifically, small particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide were linked to a 2% increased risk of stillbirth.
A rallying call for microbiome science national data management
Researchers from the DOE JGI call for a National Microbiome Data Center to manage accumulated microbiome data and metadata, enabling larger-scale comparative analyses. The center would harness all available data to address global challenges in energy, environment, health, and agriculture.
Stocks overvalued longer and more often than previously thought, says study
Researchers at Columbia University have found that individual stocks may be overpriced for longer periods of time and more often than previously thought. The study estimated the number of bubbles in the US stock market between 2000 and 2013, counting up to 13,000 bubbles, or an average of four bubbles per stock.
New study shows electronic health records often capture incomplete mental health data
A new study found that electronic health records (EHRs) frequently fail to capture comprehensive mental health data, resulting in potential medication errors and patient harm. The research highlights the importance of supplementing EHR-derived data with external sources to improve patient care.
Screening young athletes to prevent sudden cardiac arrest not proven to save lives
Experts say pre-participation screening should be abandoned due to the lack of evidence confirming it saves lives. The harms of overdiagnosis, overtreatment, and false positives far outweigh any potential benefits in preventing sudden cardiac arrest among young athletes.
Clinical score may help predict likelihood of bariatric surgery curing type 2 diabetes in patients
A clinical score called DiaRem can predict the likelihood of bariatric surgery curing type 2 diabetes in patients. The study found that patients with lower DiaRem scores were more likely to experience complete remission or prolonged partial remission after surgery.
New debugger finds security flaws in popular web apps
MIT researchers developed a system that can quickly analyze tens of thousands of lines of code to find security flaws in popular web apps. The new debugger, called Space, evaluates data access procedures and identifies seven common ways web applications control access to data.
Study examines association between surgical skill and long-term outcomes of bariatric surgery
A study published in JAMA Surgery found that surgeons' skills have no effect on postoperative weight loss or resolution of medical comorbidities at 1 year after laparoscopic gastric bypass. However, surgical skill was associated with higher rates of diabetes resolution.
Use of open access platforms for clinical trial data
A study found that only 15.5% of available clinical trials were requested through open access platforms, suggesting underutilization due to lack of awareness or funding support. The researchers called for promoting the use of shared clinical trial data to increase transparency and validation studies.
Many women around the world leave health facilities too soon after giving birth
A new study found that a substantial proportion of women globally do not stay in health facilities long enough after giving birth, resulting in inadequate postnatal care. The average length of stay varies greatly across countries, with some women staying as little as 0.5 days or as long as 6.2 days.
What's the impact of new marijuana laws? The data so far...
According to a review in the Journal of Addiction Medicine, new marijuana laws have led to an increase in marijuana use among adults but not teens, with some evidence of harmful effects. The potency of marijuana is also increasing, leading to more drivers testing positive for it.
Fast & sharp: Medicaid expansion gives hospitals immediate relief from uninsured care
A new study found that Medicaid expansion resulted in a 50% decrease in uninsured hospital stays and a 20% increase in care for people with Medicaid coverage. This has significant implications for the financial status of hospitals, particularly those in states that did not expand Medicaid.
Brooding brittle star babies in 3-D
Researchers used microCT scanning to visualize brooding chambers and juveniles in live-bearing brittle stars. The 3D images provide an in situ view of developing young and the position of bursae inside adults, allowing for comparative morphological analyses.
Global maternal mortality fell 44 percent since 1990: UN group, UMass statistician
A new analysis found that global maternal mortality rates declined by 43.9% between 1990 and 2015, with the largest decreases seen in Eastern Asia, where the rate fell from 95 to 27 deaths per 100,000 live births. However, the decline was lower in other regions, falling short of the UN's 75% goal.
New model for collecting high quality biospecimens for genomic analysis
Researchers developed a novel approach to collect healthy post-mortem blood and tissue samples from hundreds of donors for gene expression analysis. The GTEx Project provides valuable resources for understanding disease processes and developing treatments.
Using patients' trail of digital crumbs for public health surveillance
Novel Data Streams (NDS) offer a promising approach to public health surveillance by analyzing patient-generated digital data. NDS encompasses various sources, including internet search data and social media posts, allowing for nearly instantaneous and fine geographic scale surveillance.
Precision monitoring to transform health care: Right data, right person, right time
Researchers are developing precision monitoring programs to provide actionable, personalized care for veterans. The PRIS-M program will use existing VA electronic health data to implement timely monitoring and improve patient outcomes.
Novel cybercatalog of flower-loving flies suggests the digital future of taxonomy
A novel cybercatalog of southern African flower-loving flies showcases how taxonomic knowledge can be made available through links to online data providers. The catalog utilizes persistent identifiers, enabling machines to access the information, and demonstrates a digital future for taxonomy.
Dew helps ground cloud computing
A new cloud-dew architecture offers a way to counteract cloud downtime and communication difficulties by providing a buffer between the local user and cloud servers. This lightweight local server retains a copy of the given user's data, making it available with or without an internet connection.
Bringing 'dark data' into the light: Best practices for digitizing herbarium collections
A new set of workflow modules facilitates imaging and data transcription for thousands of plant specimens, providing a searchable online database. The modules are designed to unify digitization projects across the nation and include methods for public participation in imaging and data transcription.
Artificial intelligence authors crowdsourced interactive fiction
A new AI system crowdsources plot points for interactive stories, allowing for more creative narratives and an easier method for interactive narrative generation. The system achieved near-human-level authoring in a test, with improvements over random generators.
Saving oysters by digging up their past
A new Cornell University study suggests that examining centuries-old oyster reefs can help restore these vital marine ecosystems. By analyzing fossils and sediment records, scientists can gain insights into how oysters have grown, lived, and interacted with their environments over time.
The nonagenarian athlete: Researchers study Olga Kotelko's brain
A study published in Neurocase found that Olga Kotelko's brain showed some promising signs, with intact white-matter tracts and a hippocampus larger than expected. However, her brain also had advanced aging markers, highlighting the need for further research into the effects of exercise on cognition in older adults.
Very little evidence for cutting out certain carbs to ease irritable bowel
A review of the available data concludes that there is very little evidence to recommend a low FODMAP diet as an effective treatment for irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. While some studies suggest potential benefits, such as changes in gut bacteria profiles, more research is needed to establish its efficacy and long-term effects.
Dark and marked: Strikingly colored new fleshbelly frog from the Andean cloud forest
A new fleshbelly frog species, N. madreselva, has been discovered in the Peruvian cloud forest, characterized by its striking coloration and limited distribution. The species is threatened by deforestation, diseases, and agricultural activities, emphasizing the need for conservation efforts to protect amphibian biodiversity.