Technology
press releases.

Technology4 Aug 2023

Does relaxing paywall access help or hurt digital news subscriptions?

Key Takeaways: When news sites relax paywall access to their sites, they leverage the power of sampling to increase subscribers. Temporarily suspending paywall restrictions on certain major stories or trends serves the public interest while conditioning new visitors to pay for access later. BALTIMORE, MD, August 1, 2023 – A new study has revealed that when news sites temporarily relax or suspend restrictions tied to paywall access, they eventually see an increase in subscribers. This ...

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Technology3 Aug 2023

University of Minnesota-led study links long-term artificial sweetener intake to increased body fat adipose tissue volume

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL (08/03/2023) — Published in the International Journal of Obesity, University of Minnesota Medical School and School of Public Health researchers led a study on the relationship between dietary intake and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Over 20 years, the research team examined people's regular dietary intake, paying particular attention to non-nutritive sweeteners commonly found in artificial sweeteners. They found that long-term consumption of aspartame, saccharin and diet beverages were linked to increased fat stores in the abdomen and fat within muscle. However, ...

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Technology3 Aug 2023

Current takes a surprising path in quantum material

ITHACA, N.Y. -- Cornell researchers used magnetic imaging to obtain the first direct visualization of how electrons flow in a special type of insulator, and by doing so they discovered that the transport current moves through the interior of the material, rather than at the edges, as scientists had long assumed. The finding provides new insights into the electron behavior in so-called quantum anomalous Hall insulators and should help settle a decades-long debate about how current flows in more general quantum Hall insulators. These insights will inform the development of topological materials for next-generation quantum devices. The team’s paper, “Direct ...

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Technology3 Aug 2023

Researchers strengthen defenses against common cyberattack

RICHLAND, Wash.—Scientists have developed a better way to recognize a common internet attack, improving detection by 90 percent compared to current methods. The new technique developed by computer scientists at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory works by keeping a watchful eye over ever-changing traffic patterns on the internet. The findings were presented on August 2 by PNNL scientist Omer Subasi at the IEEE International Conference on Cyber Security and Resilience, where the manuscript was recognized as the best research paper presented at the meeting. The ...

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Technology3 Aug 2023

Nottingham Trent University chooses Digital Science to measure social impact of research

Digital Science, a technology company serving stakeholders across the research ecosystem, is pleased to announce that Nottingham Trent University has chosen Altmetric Explorer from Digital Science’s flagship products to improve the measurement and reporting of social media and alternative metrics. Nottingham Trent University (NTU) has signed a deal to utilise Altmetric to report on societal impact and dissemination of research. Using Digital Science’s products and tools, NTU will be able to support its research strategy, impact development, dissemination ...

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Technology3 Aug 2023

Robots cause company profits to fall – at least at first

Researchers have found that robots can have a ‘U-shaped’ effect on profits: causing profit margins to fall at first, before eventually rising again. The researchers, from the University of Cambridge, studied industry data from the UK and 24 other European countries between 1995 and 2017, and found that at low levels of adoption, robots have a negative effect on profit margins. But at higher levels of adoption, robots can help increase profits. According to the researchers, this U-shaped phenomenon is due to the relationship between reducing costs, developing new processes ...

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Technology2 Aug 2023

When D turns to F, quantum matter is A-plus

HOUSTON – (Aug. 2, 2023) – Rice University physicists have shown that immutable topological states, which are highly sought for quantum computing, can be entangled with other, manipulable quantum states in some materials. “The surprising thing we found is that in a particular kind of crystal lattice, where electrons become stuck, the strongly coupled behavior of electrons in d atomic orbitals actually act like the f orbital systems of some heavy fermions,” said Qimiao Si, co-author of a study about the research in Science Advances. The unexpected find provides ...

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Technology2 Aug 2023

Robotic grippers offer unprecedented combo of strength and delicacy

Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a robotic gripping device that is gentle enough to pick up a drop of water, strong enough to pick up a 6.4 kilogram (14.1 pound) weight, dexterous enough to fold a cloth, and precise enough to pick up microfilms that are 20 times thinner than a human hair. In addition to possible manufacturing applications, the researchers also integrated the device with technology that allows the gripper to be controlled by the electrical signals produced by muscles in the forearm, demonstrating its potential for use with robotic prosthetics. “It is difficult ...

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Technology2 Aug 2023

Important step toward next-generation probiotics

One of the beneficial gut bacteria residing in the human gut, which normally cannot survive in an environment with oxygen, can now be made oxygen-tolerant. This is a key finding in the development of future probiotic treatment that is now being explored to improve glucose control in individuals with prediabetes. Our intestines are home to trillions of bacteria, the gut microbiota, which are important for functions such as digesting food and educating and activating the immune system. During the past decade it has been clarified that changes in the bacterial composition can be linked to various diseases. Significant expectations have been attributed to the next generation ...

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Technology1 Aug 2023

Machine learning, blockchain technology could help counter spread of fake news

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- A proposed machine learning framework and expanded use of blockchain technology could help counter the spread of fake news by allowing content creators to focus on areas where the misinformation is likely to do the most public harm, according to new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York. The research led by Thi Tran, assistant professor of management information systems at Binghamton University’s School of Management, expands on existing studies by offering tools for recognizing patterns in misinformation and helping ...

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Technology1 Aug 2023

MSU leads Office of Naval Research grant to make AI more reliable and transparent

Highlights: Michigan State University researchers are leading a $1.8 million grant project funded by the Office of Naval Research to evolve artificial intelligence. The research would make it possible to use AI more reliably for tasks we already accomplish with help from popular AI tools like ChatGPT. It could also enable people to entrust AI systems with more advanced jobs that rely on understanding language and visual information, including education, navigation and multimodal question-answering systems. The team is working to connect “classical” or symbolic AI with current deep neural networks and create a neuro-symbolic framework. ...

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Technology1 Aug 2023

A novel laser slicing technique for diamond semiconductors

Silicon-based materials are currently the undisputed leaders in the field of semiconductors. Even so, scientists around the world are actively trying to find superior alternatives for next-generation electronics and high-power systems. Interestingly, diamonds are among the most promising materials for applications such as fast telecommunications and power conversion in electric vehicles and power plants. Despite their attractive properties for the semiconductor industry, the applications of diamonds are limited due to the lack of techniques to slice them into thin wafers efficiently. As a result, diamond wafers must be synthesized one by one, making fabrication ...

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Technology1 Aug 2023

Researchers unveil new cipher system that protects computers against spy programs

A group of international researchers has achieved a breakthrough in computer security with the development of a new and highly efficient cipher for cache randomization. The innovative cipher, designed by Assistant Professor Rei Ueno from the Research Institute of Electrical Communication at Tohoku University, addresses the threat of cache side-channel attacks, offering enhanced security and exceptional performance. Cache side-channel attacks pose a significant threat to modern computer systems, as they can stealthily extract sensitive information, including secret keys and passwords, from unsuspecting victims. ...

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Technology1 Aug 2023

62 percent of young Thai women put off by pap smears | BGI Insight

Only 28.5% of Thai women are diagnosed at stage I of cervical cancer when survival rates are highest, according to a study published by the Mahidol University. To further motivate action to combat cervical cancer, BGI Genomics released its State of Cervical Cancer Awareness Report in Thailand. This report assesses the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination to highlight the associated barriers and opportunities. 1,878 female respondents from six countries and ...

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Technology31 Jul 2023

Harnessing the power of light: Advancements in photonic memory for faster optical computing

Technological advancements like autonomous driving and computer vision are driving a surge in demand for computational power. Optical computing, with its high throughput, energy efficiency, and low latency, has garnered considerable attention from academia and industry. However, current optical computing chips face limitations in power consumption and size, which hinders the scalability of optical computing networks. Thanks to the rise of nonvolatile integrated photonics, optical computing devices can achieve in-memory computing while operating with zero static power consumption. Phase-change materials (PCMs) have emerged as promising candidates for achieving photonic memory and nonvolatile ...

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Technology31 Jul 2023

Wang conducting finite temperature simulation of non-Markovian quantum dynamics

Wang Conducting Finite Temperature Simulation Of Non-Markovian Quantum Dynamics Fei Wang, Assistant Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry, received funding from the National Science Foundation for the project: "Finite temperature simulation of non-Markovian quantum dynamics in condensed phase using quantum computers." For this research, Wang will develop efficient quantum algorithms to perform condensed phase quantum dynamics simulations on quantum computers. Many important physical and chemical processes occur in the condensed phase, spanning chemical reactions in solutions, charge transfer at semiconductor interfaces, ...

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Technology31 Jul 2023

New algorithm ensnares its first ‘potentially hazardous’ asteroid

Link to Google Drive folder containing images, videos and caption/credit information: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/19LP7UZbVKkTXSFds6DaKSy1lp014Hw4z?usp=sharing Link to release: https://www.washington.edu/news/2023/07/31/heliolinc3d/ FROM: James Urton University of Washington +1 206-543-2580 jurton@uw.edu Ranpal Gill Vera C. Rubin Observatory +1 520-309-6195 rgill@lsst.org Note: Researcher contact information at the end For ...

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Technology31 Jul 2023

Way cool: UVA professor developing ‘freeze ray’ technology for the Air Force

You know that freeze-ray gun that “Batman” villain Mr. Freeze uses to “ice” his enemies? A University of Virginia professor thinks he may have figured out how to make one in real life. The discovery – which, unexpectedly, relies on heat-generating plasma – is not meant for weaponry, however. Mechanical and aerospace engineering professor Patrick Hopkins wants to create on-demand surface cooling for electronics inside spacecraft and high-altitude jets. “That’s the primary problem right now,” Hopkins said. “A lot of electronics on board heat up, but they have no way to cool down.” The U.S. Air Force likes the prospect of a freeze ...

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Technology28 Jul 2023

Study looks at Achilles' heel of insulin pump technology

Since the insulin pump started widespread use in the early 1980s, it’s become the option of choice for type 1 diabetes patients to manage their glucose levels in a way that doesn’t require testing their blood sugar and injecting insulin multiple times daily. But now, a first-of-its kind study is looking at the issue of patients “running out of real estate” due to pump sites becoming fibrotic, irritated and less effective at delivering insulin. The UW Medicine-led study was published July 14 in the journal Diabetes Care, a publication of the American Diabetes Association. “No ...

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Technology28 Jul 2023

The approaches to achieve high-performance wearable sensors with hydrogels

This review is written by Dr. Weixing Song from the Department of Chemistry, Capital Normal University. The paper reviewed the toughness and conductive network of existing hydrogel sensors. It emphasized the development status of various hydrogel sensors and highlighted strategies to enhance their mechanical and electrical performance. The findings are valuable for designing components and structures of high-performance wearable hydrogel sensors. The increasing demand for healthcare IoT devices drives the development of wearable electronics. Electronic skins possess softness, stretchability, and self-healing ...

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Technology26 Jul 2023

A simpler method for learning to control a robot

Researchers from MIT and Stanford University have devised a new machine-learning approach that could be used to control a robot, such as a drone or autonomous vehicle, more effectively and efficiently in dynamic environments where conditions can change rapidly. This technique could help an autonomous vehicle learn to compensate for slippery road conditions to avoid going into a skid, allow a robotic free-flyer to tow different objects in space, or enable a drone to closely follow a downhill skier despite being buffeted by strong winds. The researchers’ approach incorporates certain structure from control theory into the process for learning a model in such a way that leads ...

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Technology26 Jul 2023

Fast electrical signals mapped in plants with new bioelectronic technology

What happens inside the carnivorous plant Venus Flytrap when it catches an insect? New technology has led to discoveries about the electrical signalling that causes the trap to snap shut. Bioelectronic technology enables advanced research into how plants react to their surroundings, and to stress. Most people know that the nervous system in humans and other animals sends electric impulses. But do plants also have electrical signals even though they lack a nervous system? Yes, plants have electrical signals that are generated in response to touch and stress factors, such as wounds caused by herbivores and attacks on their roots. As opposed to animals, who can move out of the ...

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Technology26 Jul 2023

Researchers develop machine learning models that could improve suicide-risk prediction among children

A new study from UCLA Health researchers finds that the typical ways health systems store and track data on children receiving emergency care miss a sizable portion of those who are having self-injurious thoughts or behaviors. The researchers also found that several machine learning models they designed were significantly better at identifying those children at risk of self-harm. Amid a nationwide youth mental health crisis, mental health providers are trying to improve their understanding of which children are at-risk of suicide or self-harm so providers can intervene earlier. However, health systems often ...

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Technology26 Jul 2023

Predicting lifespan-extending chemical compounds for C. elegans with machine learning

“We created datasets for predicting whether or not a compound extends the lifespan of C. elegans [...]” BUFFALO, NY- July 26, 2023 – A new research paper was published in Aging (listed by MEDLINE/PubMed as "Aging (Albany NY)" and "Aging-US" by Web of Science) Volume 15, Issue 13, entitled, “Predicting lifespan-extending chemical compounds for C. elegans with machine learning and biologically interpretable features.” Recently, there has been a growing interest in the development of pharmacological interventions targeting ...

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Technology26 Jul 2023

Mount Sinai researchers uncover how mammary glands control overall energy balance and fat metabolism

An Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai study sheds light on the intricate interplay between mammary adipose (fat) tissue and breast health, and offers exciting possibilities for understanding breast development, lactation, cancer, and obesity and related metabolic disorders. The study was published today in Nature. The research team was led by Prashant Rajbhandari, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone Disease), and a member of the Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism Institute at Icahn Mount Sinai. The ...

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