Professor Matthew Stephens at the University of Chicago has received a $1.5 million Moore Foundation grant to develop and apply statistical methods for integrating diverse types of biological data. His work aims to improve our understanding of genetic regulation within living cells.
A new study from the University of Bristol and partners found that movies featuring dogs can increase breed popularity by up to 10 years, with the strongest influence in the early twentieth century. The research analyzed data from the American Kennel Club and found a correlation between movie viewership and breed registration trends.
A new study by University of Chicago Booth School of Business researchers found that campers who formed close relationships with members from the opposing side developed more positive feelings toward all members of that group. This effect was found to last long after returning home, even months later.
A new study by MIT researchers shows that commuting times are generally independent of distance traveled, as long as commuters have access to various transportation options. This is demonstrated through the use of mobile phone data across five locations on four continents.
A new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that First Nations people are less likely to receive guideline-recommended coronary angiography after a heart attack. This disparity results in poorer long-term survival rates for this population, highlighting the need for improved access to cardiovascular care.
Frontiers introduces a new open-access journal, covering robotics and artificial intelligence. The journal will utilize the Frontiers open-science platform to facilitate research networking and knowledge sharing.
The Protein Data Bank has surpassed 100,000 entries, providing a wealth of structural data for researchers to understand biological mechanisms and discover new medicines. The archive's growth is driven by the efforts of structural biologists worldwide, who continue to deposit new structures and improve the resource.
A NASA pilot project measures geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) in real-time, providing unprecedented data gathering and insights into Earth's upper atmosphere. The goal is to better understand GICs and their impact on the US power grid.
A new study published in PeerJ found that publicly discussed papers were retracted or corrected 7-fold more than those for which allegations were never publicized. This suggests that editors may be more inclined to act on a paper if they see the sum-total of a particular lab group's problems.
A team of biology students from Universiti Malaysia Sabah and Naturalis Biodiversity Center discovered a new spider species during their Tropical Biodiversity field course in Malaysian Borneo. The students created a makeshift taxonomy lab, wrote a joint publication, and sent it to a major taxonomic journal for review.
Researchers have mapped the exploration area and analyzed geological characteristics, producing a 1°×1° geologic map near the landing site. They identified two basaltic units with distinct formation mechanisms, shedding light on the lunar surface's composition.
A recent study found that most scientific data is inaccessible after just 20 years, with over 80% of publicly funded research data lost forever. Researchers are calling for journals to require authors to share their data on public archives before publication.
A new study found that 80% of scientific data are lost within two decades, highlighting the need for public archives to preserve research findings. The authors recommend making data upload a condition for publication in scientific journals.
Researchers found a significant link between the surname Brady and an increased risk of bradycardia, with patients named Brady more likely to require pacemakers compared to the general population. The study suggests that people may have a preference for careers connected to their name, influencing their health outcomes.
Researchers at UCLA invented a tool called research maps, which helps neuroscientists quickly scan existing knowledge, plan their next study, and optimize investments. The maps classify information into categories and score the weight of evidence based on criteria such as reproducibility and convergence.
A new study found that early spatial reasoning skills at age 13 predict creative and innovative achievements, especially in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) domains. This unique skill contributes to the development of new knowledge and innovation above traditional measures of mathematical and verbal ability.
A Yale project has made all of Medtronic's clinical trial research data for a bone growth product available for independent reanalysis. The project, known as the Yale University Open Data Access Project (YODA), aims to address the problem of unpublished and selectively published clinical evidence.
Scientists at Benaroya Research Institute and Baylor Institute for Immunology Research report a comparative study of molecular immune responses to influenza and pneumococcal vaccines. The study utilized cutting-edge web technology to improve data dissemination, allowing researchers to investigate the primary data from a web portal.
The new center is designed to improve how science is conducted and communicated, with tools to promote accurate and transparent findings. It also provides incentives for original research and replication of previous studies.
The Association for Psychological Science has launched an initiative to encourage multi-center replication studies, with a new type of article that allows replication study designs to be peer-reviewed before data collection. The goal is to make replication a valued part of daily scientific practice.
A Network Integrated Biocollections Alliance (NIBA) aims to provide online access to digitized data from biological specimens held in various repositories. The initiative will help cope with environmental problems such as climate change and invasive species.
Researchers found higher stillbirth rates among Inuit and First Nations women in Quebec, particularly at term, with rates 2 times those of non-Aboriginal populations. The study suggests that reducing smoking and managing weight may help prevent stillbirths.
Researchers developed an algorithm that can identify last names using Y chromosome data, compromising individual privacy. The study highlights the risk of revealing personal information through genetic data, calling for better encryption techniques and legislation to protect participants' identities.
A new study by Ohio State University reveals that younger generations have significantly higher credit card debt and slower repayment rates compared to previous generations. Increasing the minimum monthly payment can lead to faster debt repayment, potentially saving individuals years of financial burden.
Paleontologists find varying evolutionary modes among morphological traits within fossil species, validating mosaic evolution. The study analyzes hundreds of sequences of fossil samples using model selection methods, revealing conflicting patterns of change.
A University of Alberta researcher warns that couples should address relationship doubts before getting married. The study found that more confident couples spent more time together and stayed happy over a four-year period.
The NSF invests nearly $15 million in new Big Data research projects to develop new tools and methods for extracting knowledge from large data sets. These grants aim to accelerate progress in science and engineering research and innovation.
The George Washington University (GWU) and University of Maryland have received a $916,000 National Science Foundation grant to develop faster and more secure data transfer solutions for their research data. The two-year project aims to reduce costs and increase efficiency in data shipping methods.
The genome sequence of the critically endangered Puerto Rican Parrot was successfully assembled using locally funded community efforts. The project showcases how accessible genomic technology has become, with a small institution in Puerto Rico achieving this feat without relying on large international genome centers.
Researchers found that warmer temperatures than usual can save energy in data centers, with potential benefits for system reliability. The study suggests that most organizations could run their data centers hotter than currently recommended, saving up to 5% of energy consumption.
Researchers at Harvard University are developing new tools and policies to protect personal data used in research studies, enabled by a four-year $5 million NSF grant. The project aims to make sharing research data safer in cyberspace while preserving individual privacy.
Italy has pledged participation in ELIXIR, a pan-European effort to manage biological data for research and medicine. The move aims to establish partnerships throughout Europe and benefit from Italy's bioinformatics expertise.
A new initiative establishes Online Identification Keys (OIK) as a derivative of Data Papers, facilitating interactive key construction and citation mechanism. MOSCHweb is a software platform that enables the creation of online keys, providing biologists and general users with benefits.
The article highlights the importance of methods for ensuring independence in trial analysis and clearly defined early stopping guidelines. However, issues around liability for data monitoring committee members remain unclear.
Center-pivot irrigation, invented in 1949, improves water distribution and reduces evaporation, resulting in more efficient farming. The technique is used worldwide, covering 20% of cultivated fields, which produce 40% of global food supply.
Researchers have developed a statistical model to quantify the weight of fingerprint evidence, paving the way for its full use in courts. The current method relies on subjective certainty, not supported by logic or data.
Autism Speaks has joined the National Institute of Health's National Database for Autism Research (NDAR), providing access to genetic, phenotypic, and clinical data from 2500 families. This collaboration enables researchers to pool larger datasets and accelerate scientific discovery.
A new study published in PLOS ONE challenges the idea that women's voices contain cues for men to detect ovulation. The researchers found that the variation in women's vocal quality throughout the menstrual cycle does not provide reliable information about the timing of ovulation, making it a poor mating clue.
A recent study by Dr. Heather Piwowar found that cancer research is less likely to make its raw data available for reuse compared to other fields. Only 45% of gene expression studies were deposited in public databases, despite the importance of sharing these datasets for future research.
The GigaScience journal and database launch provides a platform for the open release of large-scale biological datasets, including those from the deadly E. coli O104 outbreak and endangered species like polar bears. This initiative aims to accelerate scientific discovery by enabling rapid data sharing and reuse.
Scientific data show alarming changes in Arctic snow, water, ice, and permafrost, posing risks to human populations and the world at large. Climate change could also open up new areas for mineral and oil exploration, but this must be balanced against the enormous challenges it poses.
Researchers tracked three shark species and found tiger and thresher sharks can swim directly to targeted locations, suggesting a 'mental map' of the area. The study suggests these animals use magnetic fields as landmarks to navigate.
Researchers Peter Fox and James Hendler outline a new vision for scientific data visualization, encouraging scientists to adopt web-based approaches. They highlight the advantages of interactive and dynamic visualizations, such as those found on the web, which can facilitate collaboration, reduce costs, and increase accessibility.
A Kansas State University researcher's work shows the key role of brand reputation in governing decisions in a store-within-a-store agreement. The research, published next year in the Journal of Marketing Research, highlights how cooperation between manufacturers and retailers is crucial for success.
A global community of environmental researchers has united to monitor and analyze Earth's carbon exchange through over 500 micrometeorological towers. The newly launched platform, Fluxdata.org, allows researchers to access and harmonize data from hundreds of sites worldwide.
The penalty points system driver's license resulted in a significant reduction of 12.6% in highway deaths and injuries within the first two years after its implementation in Spain. However, this effect is temporary, lasting only nine months for deaths in urban accidents.
The ACGME task force proposes revised duty hour and supervision standards to better match residents' levels of experience and emerging competencies. The new standards aim to improve resident training and patient care by reducing fatigue and minimizing medical errors.
A global research team gathered over 600 supercentenarians, nearly 20 of whom lived beyond 115, and created the International Database on Longevity. The study reveals that many of these individuals avoided dementia until shortly before death, sparking interest in understanding the secrets behind their longevity.
Researchers found that black patients had slightly higher 30-day readmission rates than white patients, with disparities persisting at minority-serving hospitals. Improving efforts at poor-performing hospitals could increase quality of care and reduce racial healthcare disparities.
A study published in JAMA Network found considerable differences in estimates of future physician workforce supply, with US Census Bureau data suggesting a potential younger but fewer physician workforce. The analysis used Masterfile and CPS data to identify significant age discrepancies between the two datasets.
The eScience revolution aims to hasten scientific discovery by providing a toolkit for scientists and educators to access and interpret vast amounts of data. Semantic Web technology enables computers to provide meaning to words, linking users to related information and facilitating collaboration between experts and non-experts.
A new mathematical formula and software solution ensure the protection of individual identities in genetic research studies. This allows researchers to access valuable DNA information while maintaining privacy, potentially leading to groundbreaking medical discoveries.
Researchers from the University of Utah and NIH identified three genes controlling seven major types of dog coat, including curly hair. The study used data from Portuguese water dogs to understand complex human diseases caused by multiple genes.
Scientists can now read large numbers of articles simultaneously using powerful digital tools that support strategic reading. These tools leverage ontologies to provide information on unambiguous term identification and relationships, allowing computers to assist scientists in their reading process.
A large-scale analysis of nearly 60,000 patients found bariatric surgery to be relatively safe with complication rates around 10% and a total mortality rate under 1%. The study's findings indicate improved safety measures in modern weight-loss surgery.
The AGI Workforce Program releases its third chapter, Geoscience Employment Sectors, which examines the demographics and dynamics of the geoscience workforce. The report provides insights into salaries, experience, and job transitions for geosciences graduates, as well as employment projections for 2016.
The International Council for Science (ICSU) aims to create a global virtual library for scientific data to address inadequate current networks and ensure inter-disciplinary research. The new system will provide quality assurance, promote data publishing, and facilitate access to valuable scientific data.
The Worldwide LHC Computing Grid has combined the power of over 140 computer centers from 33 countries to analyze and manage 15 million gigabytes of LHC data annually. This massive distributed computing system will enable 7,000 scientists worldwide to analyze data and uncover secrets about the physical universe.
Recent M.D.-Ph.D. graduates are more likely to pursue research careers due to factors such as substantial career involvement in research and lower educational debt. Variables associated with a lower likelihood of pursuing an M.D.-Ph.D. program include female sex, race/ethnicity underrepresented in medicine, and planned training in emer...
Research reveals UK children's physical activity levels are 6 times lower than reported national data, with actual levels at 24 minutes a day. Only 3% of boys and 2% of girls meet the recommended daily amounts of moderate to vigorous physical activity.