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Small news outlets have big impact on public discourse

A large-scale study found that articles from small news outlets can increase discussion by 63% and shift the balance of opinion by 2.3% in favor of the article's ideological direction. The impact is observed across different political affiliations, geographies, and social media intensity.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateNov 9, 2017

Driving national discussions

A recent study by Harvard University researchers found that even smaller media outlets can have a significant impact on the national conversation about major public policy issues. The study, which involved 48 news outlets and over 35 experiments, showed that discussion of a particular topic across social media rose by more than 62 perc...

SourceHarvard University·JournalScience·DateNov 9, 2017

A waterway bounces back following the passage of the Clean Water Act

The Illinois Waterway has successfully recovered following the passage of the 1972 Clean Water Act, according to a study published in BioScience. The authors used a robust data set to demonstrate a strong linkage between water quality and the rebound of fish populations.

SourceAmerican Institute of Biological Sciences·JournalBioScience·DateNov 8, 2017
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

More physical activity and higher intensity physical activity may significantly reduce risk of death in older women in the short term

A new study found that more moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity significantly reduces the risk of death among older women, but light intensity activity or sedentary behavior had no independent association. The research suggests that even low-level activities can have health benefits for other outcomes.

SourceAmerican Heart Association·DateNov 6, 2017

Tanning beds and risky behavior linked -- in men

A study by the University of Connecticut found that men who tan use tanning beds more frequently than women but engage in riskier behaviors, such as smoking and binge drinking. Men who tan also exhibit addictive behavior towards tanning, with 49% of users reporting difficulty quitting.

SourceUniversity of Connecticut·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Dermatology·DateNov 2, 2017

More time on social media is not linked to poor mental health

A study by Chloe Berryman found that social media use among young adults is more closely linked to mental health problems than the amount of time spent using it. However, vaguebooking – writing cryptic posts to solicit attention – was a worrying trend that showed a correlation with loneliness and suicidal thoughts.

SourceSpringer·JournalPsychiatric Quarterly·DateNov 2, 2017
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

Social media data use needs tighter research controls, experts say

Experts say social media data use needs stricter guidelines due to rapid technological advancements and lack of adequate ethics frameworks. Researchers are mining large datasets to uncover insights into human behaviour, but only a small fraction report considering the ethical implications.

SourceUniversity of Edinburgh·JournalResearch Ethics·DateOct 30, 2017

Allergists examine 'webside manner'

The American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology is developing guidelines for allergists on using telemedicine to provide high-quality care. This approach leverages technology to improve access to medical care and maximize patient experience. The goal is to have an exceptional user experience, putting the patient at the center.

SourceAmerican College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology·DateOct 27, 2017
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

Does rhinoplasty change perceptions of attractiveness, success, health?

Participants rated patients after rhinoplasty as more attractive, successful, and healthier than before surgery. The study used a web-based survey with images of 13 unique patients before and after rhinoplasty, showing an improvement in social interactions stemming from positive observer perceptions.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Facial Plastic Surgery·DateOct 19, 2017

Social media accounts promote skeletal images of women

A new study by the University of Exeter found thousands of social media accounts celebrating extreme thinness, featuring selfies with protruding bones. The research suggests that these platforms are encouraging eating disorders and promoting unhealthy body image among young women.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalJournal of Eating Disorders·DateOct 16, 2017
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Tweeting rage: How immigration policies can polarize public discourse

Research by René D. Flores found that Twitter data shows a shift in behavior towards anti-immigrant users, with tweets becoming more negative after Arizona Senate Bill 1070 was passed. The study used sentiment analysis to determine the impact of the law on public discourse.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalAmerican Journal of Sociology·DateOct 16, 2017

Lost in translation: When humor kills the message

A QUT study found that humorous driver sleepiness advertisements can be ineffective due to drivers' expectations of shocking messages. Young Australian drivers prefer serious road safety topics over lighthearted approaches.

SourceQueensland University of Technology·DateOct 12, 2017

Tweets can help predict the outcome of football matches

Researchers found that Twitter posts can predict football match outcomes by analyzing tone and sentiment, particularly after significant events like goals and red cards. Combining this information with betting market prices improves forecast accuracy, with a potential bettor earning an average return of 2.28%.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalEconomic Inquiry·DateOct 12, 2017
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Using Facebook data as a real-time census

A study by University of Washington researchers found that Facebook data can be used to estimate migration statistics more accurately than the US Census Bureau. However, biases and limitations in the data must be considered when combining Facebook and American Community Survey information.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalPopulation and Development Review·DateOct 12, 2017

Tai chi holds promise as cardiac rehab exercise

Researchers found Tai Chi to be safe, well-liked, and feasible for physically inactive heart disease patients. The longer program showed an increase in moderate to vigorous physical activity, suggesting potential benefits for this population.

SourceAmerican Heart Association·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·DateOct 11, 2017

Research explores relationship between social media and drinking

A University of Houston psychologist explores how social media influences alcohol consumption among college students, finding that heavy drinkers overestimate others' drinking and misperceive what's normal. A new intervention uses social media to provide personalized feedback and reduce excessive drinking.

SourceUniversity of Houston·DateOct 10, 2017
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

Twitter a hotbed of anti-vaccine sentiment, study finds

A new study found that Twitter is a hub of anti-vaccine sentiment, particularly in affluent regions. The research used machine-learning algorithms to analyze over half a million tweets between 2009 and 2015, finding that half of online discussions about vaccines were negative.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalSocial Science & Medicine·DateOct 3, 2017

End to circus in plastic surgery social media videos?

A new code of ethical behavior for sharing plastic surgery videos on social media aims to curb vulgar content and prioritize patient safety. The guidelines, proposed by Northwestern Medicine authors, are based on four guiding principles of medical ethics and will be presented at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons annual meeting.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalPlastic & Reconstructive Surgery·DateSep 28, 2017
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

DSI professors mine social media to curb gang violence

A team of researchers from the Data Science Institute at Columbia are developing tools to flag aggressive social media posts from gangs and ISIS, aiming to prevent violent escalation. They will use natural language processing and machine learning techniques to analyze millions of tweets from gang members in Chicago and ISIS recruits.

SourceData Science Institute at Columbia·DateSep 25, 2017

Political polarization? Don't blame the web, Brown study says

A Brown University study finds that political polarization has increased most among demographic groups with low internet and social media use. The authors suggest that broader forces beyond the digital landscape may be driving the rise in partisanship.

SourceBrown University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 19, 2017
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Fake news more likely to thrive online due to lowered fact-checking

Research by Gita Johar and colleagues found that people fact-check less when they perceive others are present. In group settings, participants flagged 35% fewer statements for later fact-checking on simulated news sites compared to individual settings.

SourceColumbia Business School·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 18, 2017

Study: Social media helps students learn scientific argumentation better

A University of Kansas study found that students who participated in a social media program learned scientific argumentation better than their peers. The program, which used Twitter and Skype, improved students' ability to share scientific claims, discuss phenomena, and demonstrate knowledge.

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalEducational Media International·DateSep 12, 2017

New treatment approaches to emotional problems after TBI

Researchers evaluate innovative treatments for common emotional problems after TBI, including videoconferencing technology and web-based interventions. Participants show significant improvements in emotional regulation, positive emotions, and problem-solving skills.

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalJournal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation·DateSep 11, 2017
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

'Open gym' format shortens waiting time for cardiac rehab

A new study finds that an open gym format for cardiac rehabilitation shortens waiting times by an average of 14.9 days, compared to traditional scheduled appointments. The flexible scheduling model also showed no significant differences in outcomes, including exercise capacity and depressive symptoms.

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalJournal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention·DateAug 30, 2017

Barbers, hair salons market cosmetic surgery on Instagram

A Northwestern University study found that most Instagram providers marketing cosmetic surgery are not board-certified plastic surgeons, leading to patient harm and risk. Non-qualified providers include dentists, barbers, and hair salons, confusing patients and putting them at risk.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalAesthetic Surgery Journal·DateAug 30, 2017

Where's the line? Managing extreme speech on social media

A new study by University of Missouri researcher Brett Johnson found that while people dislike extreme speech, there is less support for outright censorship, instead advocating for clear policies promoting healthy public discourse.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalInternet Research·DateAug 29, 2017
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Cosmetic surgery may help patients quit smoking

A long-term follow-up study found that many patients who received instructions to stop smoking before cosmetic surgery were more likely to quit or reduce their cigarette use. The study suggests that targeted messaging with specific examples of the negative effects of smoking may be an effective way to encourage smokers to quit.

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalPlastic & Reconstructive Surgery·DateAug 29, 2017

Religious affiliation impacts language use on Facebook

A study of 12,815 U.S. and U.K. Facebook users found that religious affiliation is associated with the use of positive emotion and social words, while non-religious individuals use more negative emotion and cognitive processes. The researchers also discovered that non-religious people make more frequent mention of the body and death th...

SourceSociety for Personality and Social Psychology·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·DateAug 22, 2017
GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Opioid misuse can be tracked using Twitter

A study found that tweets about opioid misuse on Twitter were strongly correlated with state-by-state information from the National Surveys on Drug Usage and Health. The research used a list of keywords to extract relevant tweets, which were then clustered based on semantic distance and verified by medical toxicologists.

SourceSpringer·JournalJournal of Medical Toxicology·DateAug 22, 2017

A good read: AI evaluates quality of short stories

Researchers developed neural networks to evaluate short narratives, improving predictions over a baseline system. The AIs classified texts into popular and non-popular categories, highlighting the importance of understanding story structures in narrative evaluation.

SourceDisney Research·DateAug 21, 2017

Can Twitter aid disaster response? New IST research examines how

Researchers at Penn State's IST developed a system that correlates Twitter posts with power outage reports, showing a moderate-to-strong correlation. The tool could enable real-time monitoring and faster deployment of resources during disasters.

SourcePenn State·JournalSustainable and Resilient Infrastructure·DateAug 18, 2017
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

VA targets healthcare equity for all veterans -- new research on reducing health disparities presented in Medical Care

A recent VA study presents original research and perspectives informing efforts to ensure high-quality patient-centered care for vulnerable veteran populations. The research highlights disparities in healthcare access and outcomes among racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ veterans, homeless veterans, and others.

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalMedical Care·DateAug 16, 2017
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

How tolerance for incivility affects political participation

A study by Justin Knoll found that individuals with a high tolerance for incivility are more likely to engage in online behaviors such as commenting on news stories, participating in discussions, and donating to candidates. In contrast, activities like signing petitions and circulating content were not affected.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·DateAug 15, 2017

Are your tweets feeling well?

A study by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory found that changes in tweet opinion and emotion can signal rising health issues. Researchers analyzed 171 million anonymous tweets to identify patterns that correlate with medical visits for flu-like illnesses.

SourceDOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory·JournalEPJ Data Science·DateAug 14, 2017

Secondhand opinions

Research reveals that a minority of users' tweets account for the majority of influence, with opinion leaders forming a virtual community that shapes information spread. The study suggests targeting this community for effective advertising on social media platforms like Twitter.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Internet Marketing and Advertising·DateAug 10, 2017
Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Political party influences lawmakers' tweets more than gender

A new study by University of Arizona sociology doctoral student Morgan Johnstonbaugh found that US lawmakers' tweets are more closely tied to their political party affiliation than their gender. Contrary to expectations, women did not tweet significantly more about stereotypically female issues and men did not tweet more about male-ste...

SourceUniversity of Arizona·DateAug 10, 2017

Computer program developed to spot signs of depression from social media photos

A new computer program correctly identifies depressed individuals from their social media photos 70% of the time, according to a study. The program uses features such as photo color, comments, and face presence to predict depression. Future research aims to refine the model and address data privacy concerns.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalEPJ Data Science·DateAug 7, 2017

Where there's fire, there's smoke -- and social media

A Colorado State University study shows a strong correlation between Facebook posts about visible smoke and commonly used datasets for estimating smoke exposure. The researchers found that Facebook was a better tool than satellite data in pinpointing smoke exposure, with daily maps of Facebook posts matching standard smoke monitoring s...

SourceColorado State University·JournalAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics·DateAug 2, 2017
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Celebrity Twitter accounts display 'bot-like' behavior

Researchers from the University of Cambridge found that celebrity Twitter accounts with over 10 million followers exhibit bot-like behavior, retweeting at similar rates as automated accounts. In contrast, smaller accounts are more likely to be bots, which spend less time engaging with human content.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·DateAug 1, 2017

Making animated characters jump just got easier

A new tool from Disney Research enables novices and experts alike to create high-quality motion cycles in a matter of minutes, enhancing the creative process and expanding artist contributions. The tool uses an algorithm to extract the motion cycle from a performance, allowing for editing and customization.

SourceDisney Research·DateJul 28, 2017

Using tweets to decrypt the personality of Donald Trump and other powerful people

A QUT-led study analyzing the tweets of influential business leaders, including President Trump, reveals a unique 'emotionally unstable innovator' personality. The researchers found that Trump's personality profile is distinct from other superstar entrepreneurs and CEOs, with traits such as high neuroticism and low agreeableness.

SourceQueensland University of Technology·JournalSmall Business Economics·DateJul 27, 2017
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

What do Trump's tweets say about his personality?

Researchers analyzed Trump's 3200 tweets to find that he exhibits strong features of a Schumpeterian personality, characteristic of successful entrepreneurs. He shows creative and change-oriented behavior, but also struggles with emotional stability.

SourceSpringer·JournalSmall Business Economics·DateJul 25, 2017