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Tag: Field

  • We’re getting better at wildlife conservation, AI study of scientific abstracts suggests

    We’re getting better at wildlife conservation, AI study of scientific abstracts suggests

    Researchers are using a kind of machine learning known as sentiment analysis to assess the successes and failures of wildlife conservation over time. In their study, appearing March 19 in Patterns—a new open access data science journal from Cell Press—the researchers assessed the abstracts of more than 4,000 studies of species reintroduction across four decades and found that, generally speaking, we’re getting better and better at reintroducing species to the wild. They say that machine learning could be used in this field and others to identify the best techniques and solutions from among the ever-growing volume of scientific research.

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    https://techxplore.com/news/2020-03-wildlife-ai-scientific-abstracts.html

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  • CND accepts all WHO recommendations on the control of several psychoactive substances from the 42nd ECDD meeting

    CND accepts all WHO recommendations on the control of several psychoactive substances from the 42nd ECDD meeting

     

    During its 63rd session, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) accepted all recommendations from the 42nd meeting of the WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD). This effectively brings twelve psychoactive substances, including eleven New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) and one medicine, under international control.  Given the potential for dependence or abuse and known adverse effects, these compounds pose a risk to public health and society and are largely without any therapeutic benefit.

       Based on an in-depth review of candidate compounds by the ECDD, an independent group of experts in the field of drugs and medicines, the WHO provides annual recommendations on substance scheduling to the CND, a policy-making body comprised of 53 UN Member States. This ECDD review includes a balanced consideration of potential for abuse, dependence and harm with therapeutic value. The CND then votes on whether or not the WHO recommendations for placing reviewed substances under international control should be endorsed.

          The 42nd ECDD recommendations included the addition of four synthetic cannabinoids and three synthetic stimulants to Schedule II of the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances given similar action and adverse effects to other substances in this Schedule. These synthetic cannabinoids have been associated with impaired mental status, impaired driving, and fatalities, whereas the included synthetic stimulants have been linked to fatal intoxication. Similarly, two fentanyl analogues, with their opioid-like effects, were brought under Schedule I control (strict control) of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs given similar action and effects to other drugs in this Schedule. Two benzodiazepines including the medicine etizolam were brought under Schedule IV control of the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, both of which have been implicated in fatal and non-fatal intoxication and impaired driving. A hallucinogen was also recommended to be brought under control, specifically to Schedule I of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971, based on abuse potential and non-fatal and fatal intoxication. This is the first hallucinogen to be reviewed in many years, suggesting a potential shift in drug trends. For more information on these recommendations, please review the 42nd ECDD meeting report. .  

        In addition, the ECDD conducted a pre-review of several Schedule III opioid preparations, some of which can be accessed as over-the-counter options, such as codeine-based cough syrups, to consider their abuse potential.  The ECDD recommended a critical review be carried out at a later date.

    CND accepts all WHO recommendations on the control of several psychoactive substances from the 42nd ECDD meeting
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    https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/18-03-2020-c-n-d-accepts-all-w-h-o-recommendations-from-42nd-e-c-d-d

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  • A human-like planner that allows robots to reach for objects in cluttered environments

    A human-like planner that allows robots to reach for objects in cluttered environments

    While research in the field of robotics has led to significant advances over the past few years, there are still substantial differences in how humans and robots handle objects. In fact, even the most sophisticated robots developed so far struggle to match the object manipulation skills of the average toddler. One particular aspect of object manipulation that most robots have not yet mastered is reaching and grasping for specific objects in a cluttered environment.

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    https://techxplore.com/news/2020-03-human-like-planner-robots-cluttered-environments.html

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  • How big data is reshaping aging research and education

    How big data is reshaping aging research and education

    The age of big data is here: The world has created more data in the past two years than in the entire previous history of the human race. USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology researchers are dissecting treasure troves of information—from sources as diverse as brain scans and the human genome—to fuel groundbreaking research on improving how we age, and to reshape gerontology education to enable future scientists to make an impact in a changing field.

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    https://techxplore.com/news/2020-03-big-reshaping-aging.html

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  • Covid-19: 18 police personnel, family members test negative

    Covid-19: 18 police personnel, family members test negative

    Covid-19: 18 police personnel, family members test negative 1

    KUALA LUMPUR: All 18 Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) officers, personnel and family members who have been placed under self-quarantine after showing symptoms of Covid-19 have tested negative so far for the virus.

    “Until today, the results we received were negative but the Health Ministry has directed them to be placed under self-quarantine,” Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department director Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani told Bernama today.

    He said that the Bukit Aman Police Headquarters has also taken precautionary and preventive measures around the area following the virus outbreak, including providing disinfectants at all entrances as well as giving masks and gloves to all officers and personnel on field duty.

    “Apart than that, we have also decided to either cancel or postpone many activities, like the Police Day celebrations or official launches of new police stations,” he said.

    He said this was following a government advice yesterday for all government agencies to either postpone or cancel all activities where there will be a crowd.

    He said that it will be work as usual for all police personnel and officers, but with heightened preventive measures.

    Selangor Police chief Datuk Noor Azam Jamaludin, meanwhile, said those on duty at the Selangor Police Contingent Headquarters would adopt similar preventive measures to combat the virus outbreak.

    “Should any function be held, then screening of body temperature will be conducted while those on field duties will be provided with masks,” he said. — Bernama

    Covid-19: 18 police personnel, family members test negative
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    https://www.thesundaily.my/local/covid-19-18-police-personnel-family-members-test-negative-CC2127499

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  • User-customizable computing engine for artificial intelligence tasks

    User-customizable computing engine for artificial intelligence tasks

    Scientists at Osaka University have built a new computing device from field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA) that can be customized by the user for maximum efficiency in artificial intelligence applications. Compared with currently used rewireable hardware, the system increases circuit density by a factor of 12. Also, it is expected to reduce energy usage by 80%. This advance may lead to flexible artificial intelligence (AI) solutions that provide enhanced performance while consuming much less electricity.

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  • Could quantum computing help beat the next coronavirus?

    Could quantum computing help beat the next coronavirus?

    Quantum computing isn’t yet far enough along that it could have helped curb the spread of this coronavirus outbreak. But this emerging field of computing will almost certainly help scientists and researchers confront future crises.

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  • Google’s robot learns to walk in real world

    Google’s robot learns to walk in real world

    The field of robotics took one step forward—followed by another, then several more—when a robot called Rainbow Dash recently taught itself to walk. The four-legged machine only required a few hours to learn to walk backward and forward, and turn right and left while doing so.

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  • Shaping the future of machine learning for active matter

    Shaping the future of machine learning for active matter

    Now researchers are presenting guidelines for how active matter, such as cells and microorganisms, can best be studied using machine learning techniques. The guidelines can help others navigate the new field, which can significantly improve research in active matter.

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  • A new transverse tunneling field-effect transistor

    A new transverse tunneling field-effect transistor

    Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have recently fabricated a transverse tunneling field-effect transistor. This is a semiconductor device that can be used to amplify or switch electrical power or signals, operating through a phenomenon known as quantum tunneling. The new transistor, introduced in a paper published in Nature Electronics, was built using a van der Waals heterostructure, a material with atomically thin layers that do not mix with each other, but are instead attached via van der Waals interactions.

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