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Study led by ORNL informs climate resilience strategies in urban, rural areas

A new study led by ORNL provides valuable insights into vegetation resilience in response to extreme heat events, informing pathways for climate mitigation. The analysis found that impervious surfaces, moisture conditions, and type of land cover affect vegetation resilience, with preservation and enhancement of vegetation contributing ...

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·JournalPNAS Nexus·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 8, 2024

Study highlights key predictors of adolescent substance use; special issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry focuses on substance use disorders

A new study found that sociodemographic variables are the most robust predictors of substance use initiation among adolescents. Factors such as religion, race, and income play a significant role in determining an adolescent's likelihood of initiating substance use.

SourceAmerican Psychiatric Association·JournalAmerican Journal of Psychiatry·DateMay 6, 2024

First-of-its-kind integrated dataset enables genes-to-ecosystems research

A new dataset has been released that combines molecular information about the poplar tree microbiome with ecosystem-level processes. The dataset provides detailed information on 27 genetically distinct variants of Populus trichocarpa, a bioenergy crop, and includes data on gene expression, soil chemistry, and microbial diversity.

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·JournalScientific Data·TypeObservational study·DateApr 8, 2024

A boost to biomedical research with statistical tools: from COVID-19 analysis to data management with REDCapDM

A new R package, REDCapDM, enhances efficiency and reliability in managing research data collected through the popular REDCap platform. The tool provides functions for importing, transforming, identifying discrepancies, and managing data, simplifying the clinical data management process while ensuring quality and reliability.

SourceGermans Trias i Pujol Research Institute·JournalScientific Reports·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 22, 2024

Estimating coastal water depth from space via satellite-derived bathymetry

Researchers developed a novel machine learning-based depth estimation technique for satellite-derived bathymetry, improving accuracy in coastal regions with unique characteristics. The model demonstrated generalizability and potential for enhancements through incorporation of additional seabed spatial data.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Applied Remote Sensing·TypeObservational study·DateMar 21, 2024

Although trust in science remains high, public questions scientists’ adherence to science’s norms

A recent survey found that less than half of the U.S. public trusts scientists to overcome human and political biases. Despite high confidence in science overall, many question whether scientists live up to their values. The study highlights the need for trust to be earned through the scientific enterprise's efforts.

SourceAnnenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeSurvey·DateMar 4, 2024

Think smoking cannabis won’t damage your heart? Think again

A study by UC San Francisco researchers found that daily cannabis users had a 25% increased risk of heart attack and a 42% increased risk of stroke compared to non-users. The study also found significant cardiovascular risks associated with cannabis use, including coronary heart disease and the combination of heart attack and stroke.

SourceUniversity of California - San Francisco·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·DateFeb 28, 2024

The West is best to spot UFOs

A new study analyzed 98,000 UAP sighting reports over a 20-year period, finding that the majority occurred in western parts of the US. The researchers identified 'hot spots' with high numbers of reports and 'cold spots' with low numbers.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalScientific Reports·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 27, 2024

Climate change increases the risk of preterm births by 60% and will devastate children’s health without fast global action

A new study links climate change to a 60% increase in preterm births and severe respiratory diseases. Without global action, climate-driven extremes will devastate children's health for generations, with the strongest link found between temperature extremes and increased risk of preterm birth.

SourceFlinders University·JournalScience of The Total Environment·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 21, 2024

Automated method helps researchers quantify uncertainty in their predictions

Researchers have introduced an optimization technique that accelerates Bayesian inference without requiring extensive user effort. This new automated method achieves more accurate results faster than another popular approach and offers reliable uncertainty estimates to help scientists understand when to trust their predictions.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of Machine Learning Research·DateFeb 21, 2024

Rensselaer researcher helps scientists make sense of vast amounts of molecular data

Boleslaw Szymanski and his team developed a clustering method called SpeakEasy2: Champagne to group molecular data, which showed consistent performance across diverse applications. The method was tested on bulk gene expression, single-cell data, protein interaction networks, and large-scale human networks data, revealing its effectiven...

SourceRensselaer Polytechnic Institute·JournalGenome Biology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 8, 2024

Deaths from heart valve infections drop across U.S. overall, but surged among young adults

A new study found that deaths from infective endocarditis decreased overall in the US, but rose sharply among people ages 25-44, likely linked to the opioid crisis. Researchers call for more investigation into the trends and recommend comprehensive care plans including substance use disorder screening and treatment.

SourceAmerican Heart Association·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·DateDec 13, 2023

Real world data shows impact of immunotherapy in populations underrepresented in clinical trials, according to JNCCN study

A recent study published in JNCCN found that patients from underrepresented groups treated with first-line immunotherapy for advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) showed similar survival outcomes as their White counterparts. The study analyzed data from 248 patients and highlighted the need for more diverse patient representation...

SourceNational Comprehensive Cancer Network·JournalJournal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network·DateDec 11, 2023

Clinical smart watch finds success at identifying atrial fibrillation

A novel prescription wristwatch uses photoplethysmography to detect atrial fibrillation with high accuracy, even in participants with darker skin tones. The Verily Study Watch bridges the gap between long-term monitoring and consumer devices, enabling clinicians to effectively use wearable data for Afib management.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·TypeObservational study·DateDec 1, 2023

Riding the whims of the wind

Researchers develop a mathematical model that analyzes the future survival of plants in a changing climate by studying how far wind can carry seeds. The model provides fast and reliable predictions of seed movement, considering factors like seed type, plant height, and wind speed.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalEcological Modelling·DateNov 30, 2023