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Label distribution similarity-based noise correction for crowdsourcing
Science

Label distribution similarity-based noise correction for crowdsourcing

In crowdsourcing scenarios, we can obtain each instance's multiple noisy labels from different crowd workers and then infer its integrated label via label aggregation. In spite of the effectiveness of label aggregation methods, there still remains a certain level of noise in the integrated labels. Thus, some noise correction methods have been proposed to reduce the impact of noise in recent years. However, to the best of our knowledge, existing methods rarely consider an instance's information from both its features and multiple noisy labels simultaneously ...

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US over 40s could live extra 5 years if they were all as active as top 25% of population

If every American over the age of 40 was as physically active as the top 25% of the population, they could expect to live an extra 5 years, on average, suggest the findings of a modelling study published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. And if the least physically active matched the level of the most physically active, they could live almost 11 years longer, the estimates indicate. It’s well known that low physical activity levels are associated with a higher risk of diseases, such as heart disease and stroke, as well as premature death, but it’s not clear to what extent low physical activity levels shorten lifespan in specific groups of people ...

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Tennessee RiverLine secures $500,000 Appalachian Regional Commission Grant for river experience planning and design standards
Science

Tennessee RiverLine secures $500,000 Appalachian Regional Commission Grant for river experience planning and design standards

The Tennessee RiverLine, an initiative of University of Tennessee Extension, has been awarded a $500,000 Area Development grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development to support the development of comprehensive Planning and Design Standards. These standards will help accelerate the creation of new river experience amenities along the 652-mile stretch of the Tennessee River, benefitting residents and visitors throughout the region. The 18-month project will be led by a professional ...

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Presenting Evo – a model for decoding and designing genetic sequences

A new study presents “Evo” – a machine learning model capable of decoding and designing DNA, RNA, and protein sequences, from molecular to genome scale, with unparalleled accuracy. Evo’s ability to predict, generate, and engineer entire genomic sequences could change the way synthetic biology is done. “The ability to predict the effects of mutations across all layers of regulation in the cell and to design DNA sequences to manipulate cell function would have tremendous diagnostic and therapeutic implications for disease,” writes Christina Theodoris ...

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How do microbiomes influence the study of life?
Science

How do microbiomes influence the study of life?

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Microorganisms — bacteria, viruses and other tiny life forms — may drive biological variation in visible life as much, if not more, than genetic mutations, creating new lineages and even new species of animals and plants, according to Seth Bordenstein, director of Penn State’s One Health Microbiome Center, professor of biology and entomology, and the Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Endowed Chair in Microbiome Sciences. Bordenstein and 21 other scientists from around the world published a paper in the leading journal Science, summarizing research that they said drives a deeper understanding of biological ...

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Plant roots change their growth pattern during ‘puberty’

Ghent, November 15, 2024 – Understanding how roots grow can help us develop plants that, for example, are more resistant to drought. Research by Prof. Bert De Rybel’s team (VIB-UGent), in collaboration with the VIB Screening Core and Ghent University, uncovers how roots go through a puberty phase, which could have important implications for developing climate-resilient agriculture. Their work appears in Science. Plant puberty Plants, like all living organisms, transition through various developmental stages, starting as a seed, becoming a shoot, and eventually a full-grown, fertile plant. They even go through a sort of ‘puberty’ ...

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Beloved Disney classics convey an idealized image of fatherhood

For decades, Disney animations have shaped perceptions of family relationships and gender roles. Although much focus has traditionally been on princesses and female characters, a new study shifts attention to fatherhood and the evolving ideals of masculinity. "In the history of Disney films, female characters and princess imagery have been widely analyzed, yet the role of masculinity has been explored far less. My research aims to deepen our understanding of the male ideals Disney has constructed and how they reflect ...

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Novel SOURCE study examining development of early COPD in ages 30 to 55

Miami (November 14, 2024) – Researchers are exploring how small airway abnormalities in younger smokers could help identify who is at risk of developing COPD and establish how the chronic lung disease progresses, according to a new article. The article is published in the September 2024 issue of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: Journal of the COPD Foundation, a peer-reviewed, open-access journal. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an inflammatory lung disease, comprising several conditions, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and can be caused ...

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Science

Increase in crisis coverage, but not the number of crisis news events

The world appears to be plagued by crises. “The financial crisis, the European debt crisis, the migration crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the war in Gaza… The world seems to be stumbling from one existential crisis to the next, barely recovering from one before the next one hits,” said Stefan Geiß, a professor from the Department of Sociology and Political Science at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). However, are there really more crises now than before? Has it always been this way, or is something new happening? And if there are more public crises today ...

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Texting abbreviations makes senders seem insincere, study finds

If you want to seem sincere and receive more responses to your texts, spell out words instead of abbreviating them, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association. Researchers conducted eight experiments with a total of more than 5,300 participants using various methods. Across the experiments, individuals who used texting abbreviations were perceived as more insincere and were less likely to receive replies because they were seen as exerting less effort in text conversations. The research was published online in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. “In daily interactions, ...

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Living microbes discovered in Earth’s driest desert

Highlights: The Atacama Desert is one of the most extreme habitats on Earth. Atacama surface soil samples include a mix of DNA from inside and outside living cells. A new technique allows researchers to separate external and internal DNA to identify microbes colonizing this hostile environment. This approach for analyzing microbial communities could potentially be applied to other hostile environments, like those on other planets. Washington, D.C.—The Atacama Desert, which runs along the Pacific Coast in Chile, is the driest place on the planet and, largely because of that aridity, hostile to most living things. ...

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Artemisinin partial resistance in Ugandan children with complicated malaria

About The Study: This study found artemisinin partial resistance in Ugandan children with complicated malaria associated with the Pfkelch13 A675V variation and also found suboptimal 28-day efficacy of parenteral artesunate followed by oral artemether/lumefantrine therapy. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Chandy C. John, MD, MS, email chjohn@iu.edu. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jama.2024.22343) Editor’s Note: Please see the ...

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When is a hole not a hole? Researchers investigate the mystery of 'latent pores'
Science

When is a hole not a hole? Researchers investigate the mystery of 'latent pores'

Sometimes the holes, or pores, in the molecular structure of a chemical only appear in the presence of certain conditions or other ‘guest’ molecules. This affects the field of separation—one of the most important processes in industry—but researchers have only just begun to unravel this phenomenon Researchers have explored how a particular chemical can selectively trap certain molecules in the cavities of its structure—even though in normal conditions it has no such cavities. This innovative material with now-you-see-them-now-you-don’t holes could lead to more efficient methods for separating ...

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Science

How can we reduce adolescent pregnancies in low- and middle-income countries?

Many young girls in low- and middle-income countries become pregnant early, which can be dangerous for them and for their babies. Studies show that girls who stay in school are less likely to get pregnant at a young age. Financial support can encourage girls to stay in school and delay pregnancy and marriage in some settings. However, a new large study from Zambia found that two years of financial support combined with comprehensive sexuality education and community dialogue meetings, moderately reduced ...

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New study reveals half a century of change on Britain’s iconic limestone pavements
Science

New study reveals half a century of change on Britain’s iconic limestone pavements

Fifty years of change on iconic limestone pavements has revealed mixed fortunes for one of the most distinctive landscapes in the UK. The landscapes - which will be familiar to visitors to the Yorkshire Dales and fans of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows film – have, in many places, seen reductions of specialist species and more common less desirable species become more abundant. However, it is not all bad news as the picture is very mixed across the UK’s areas of limestone pavement with some areas increasing in plant biodiversity. The ...

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The return of protectionism: The impact of the Sino-US trade war
Science

The return of protectionism: The impact of the Sino-US trade war

Since 2018, Sino-US economic and trade relations have become increasingly tense. Between 2018 and 2019, the US imposed seven rounds of tariffs on China, to which China responded with retaliatory measures. The simple average tariff rates on US imports from China rose from 4.07% in January 2018 to 24.43% in December 2019, while the simple average tariff rates on Chinese imports from the US increased from 9.32% in January 2018 to 22.53% in December 2019 (see figure 1). Consequently, the share of Chinese goods in US imports declined significantly — ...

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UTokyo and NARO develop new vertical seed distribution trait for soybean breeding
Science

UTokyo and NARO develop new vertical seed distribution trait for soybean breeding

We have probably all seen a soybean plant, about 1 meter high with leaves and pods compactly arranged on a main stem with a few short side branches. The wild relative of the domesticated soybean is a long vine with pods widely distributed on many side branches. Plant breeding by farmers thousands of years ago is to thank for this dramatic change. As human population increases and protein demand doubles, modern plant breeders must further optimize soybean plant architecture and per plant yield for modern farming systems. Conventional ...

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Yin selected as a 2024 American Society of Agronomy Fellow
Science

Yin selected as a 2024 American Society of Agronomy Fellow

Frank Yin, agronomy researcher in the University of Tennessee Department of Plant Sciences, has been selected as a 2024 American Society of Agronomy (ASA) Fellow. The honor was awarded as a result of Yin’s more than 35 years of research contributions to institutions across the world, including 16 years at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA). Yin was recognized for the Fellowship at the national meeting of ASA in San Antonio, Texas in November. “I am humbled and honored to receive this distinction, but above all I am ...

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NYC's ride-hailing fee failed to ease Manhattan traffic, new NYU Tandon study reveals

New York City's 2019 ride-hailing surcharge cut overall taxi and ride-share trips by 11 percent in Manhattan but failed to reduce traffic congestion, a key goal of the policy, according to a new NYU Tandon School of Engineering study published in Transportation Research Part A. “While this surcharge differs from the MTA's proposed congestion pricing plan, the study's findings can contribute to the current discourse,” said Daniel Vignon – assistant professor of Civil and Urban Engineering (CUE) and member of C2SMARTER, a U.S. Department of Transportation Tier 1 University Transportation Center – who led the research with CUE PhD student Yanchao ...

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Science

Which risk factors are linked to having a severe stroke?

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 4 P.M. ET, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2024 MINNEAPOLIS – People with conditions or habits such as high blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation, or smoking, not only have a higher risk of stroke, they may also have more severe strokes than people without these risk factors, according to a study published in the November 13, 2024, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. “Stroke can lead to disability or even death, yet there are a number of risk factors that people can modify with a change ...

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Research shows managers of firms handling recalls should review media scrutiny before deciding whether to lobby

Lobbying can help companies reduce costs related to product recall, but it can also have a negative impact on the firm’s image. Research published in Strategic Management Journal offers clear data on the phenomenon, suggesting that managers should pay careful attention to the reputational cues from the media to determine when lobbying may be problematic and to refrain from the practice. Firms can use lobbying to influence the government, which in turn potentially limits their costs during product recall crises. Previous research has shown that when a firm increases its lobbying spending by approximately $417,014, which has been found to ...

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Pioneering research shows sea life will struggle to survive future global warming
Science

Pioneering research shows sea life will struggle to survive future global warming

A new study highlights how some marine life could face extinction over the next century, if human-induced global warming worsens. The research, led by the University of Bristol and published today in Nature, compares for the first time how tiny ocean organisms called plankton responded, when the world last warmed significantly in ancient history with what is likely to happen under similar conditions by the end of our century. Findings revealed the plankton were unable to keep pace with the current speed of temperature rises, putting huge swathes ...

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Repurposing semaglutide and liraglutide for alcohol use disorder

About The Study: Among patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and comorbid obesity/type 2 diabetes, the use of semaglutide and liraglutide were associated with a substantially decreased risk of hospitalization due to AUD. This risk was lower than that of officially approved AUD medications. Semaglutide and liraglutide may be effective in the treatment of AUD, and clinical trials are urgently needed to confirm these findings. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Markku Lähteenvuo, MD, PhD, email markku.lahteenvuo@uef.fi. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link ...

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New route to fluorochemicals: fluorspar activated in water under mild conditions

Researchers at Oxford University have developed a new method to extract fluorine from fluorspar (CaF₂) using oxalic acid and a fluorophilic Lewis acid in water under mild reaction conditions. This technology enables direct access to fluorochemicals, including commonly used fluorinating agents, from both fluorspar and lower-grade metspar, eliminating reliance on the supply chain of hazardous hydrogen fluoride (HF). The findings are published today in the journal Nature. Currently, all fluorochemicals – critical for many industries – are generated from the highly dangerous mineral acid ...

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American Federation for Aging Research announces 2024 AFAR grants for junior faculty

NEW YORK, NY— The American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2024 AFAR Grants for Junior Faculty. The AFAR Grants for Junior Faculty program provides up to $150,000 for a one- to two-year award to junior faculty (MDs and PhDs) to conduct research that will serve as the basis for longer term research efforts on the biology of aging. The major goal of this program is to assist in the development of the careers of early career investigators committed to pursuing careers in aging research. Selected through ...

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