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We see, hear and feel, and make sense of countless diverse, quickly changing stimuli in our environment seemingly without effort. However, doing what our brains do with ease is often an impossible task for computers. Researchers at the Leipzig Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences and the Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging in London have now developed a mathematical model which could significantly improve the automatic recognition and processing of spoken language. In the future, this kind of algorithms which imitate brain mechanisms could help machines to perceive the world around them. (PLoS Computational Biology, August 12th, 2009)
Providence, - Brown University and other scientists have taken the first steps toward mapping epigenetic variability in cells and tissues. Mapping the human epigenome, similar to the human genome project in the 1990s, could someday allow for quicker and more precise disease diagnoses and more targeted treatments of many chronic ailments.
Details are published online in the latest edition of PLoS Genetics.
Epigenetics, a relatively new endeavor in science, refers to the control of the patterns of gene expression in cells, which gives rise to the necessary differences responsible for creating the complex and interacting tissues in the body.
Details are published online in the latest edition of PLoS Genetics.
Epigenetics, a relatively new endeavor in science, refers to the control of the patterns of gene expression in cells, which gives rise to the necessary differences responsible for creating the complex and interacting tissues in the body.
Front-line staff in the nursing and care sector would welcome sensor and robot technology in nursing homes and the homes of elderly people.
The reason is that such a move would free up time that personnel could use for social contact with clients. They also believe that sensors and robots will enable elderly people to stay longer in their own homes.
These are some of the results of a study carried out by SINTEF for the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities. The background for the study is the "elderly boom" and the challenges that the nursing and care sector will face when fewer and fewer people of working age have to look after a rapidly growing population of old people.
The reason is that such a move would free up time that personnel could use for social contact with clients. They also believe that sensors and robots will enable elderly people to stay longer in their own homes.
These are some of the results of a study carried out by SINTEF for the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities. The background for the study is the "elderly boom" and the challenges that the nursing and care sector will face when fewer and fewer people of working age have to look after a rapidly growing population of old people.
A UN agency is turning to cheap, standardized Radio Frequency Identification tags to speed up its international postal delivery
One of the world's newest communications technologies soon will be used to track one of the oldest.
The Universal Postal Union (UPU), an arm of the United Nations that coordinates international postal mail services, has embarked on a project to use RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) to track the speed of international deliveries. The program, using tag processing systems from Reva Systems, will begin a test phase later this month in 21 countries.
The UPU expects it to be used in 100 countries by 2012.
One of the world's newest communications technologies soon will be used to track one of the oldest.
The Universal Postal Union (UPU), an arm of the United Nations that coordinates international postal mail services, has embarked on a project to use RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) to track the speed of international deliveries. The program, using tag processing systems from Reva Systems, will begin a test phase later this month in 21 countries.
The UPU expects it to be used in 100 countries by 2012.
© Andrew CollinsAn explorer is photographed inside tunnels that were allegedly found beneath the Pyramids of Giza
Populated by bats and venomous spiders, the underground complex was found in the limestone bedrock beneath the pyramid field at Giza.
"There is untouched archaeology down there, as well as a delicate ecosystem that includes colonies of bats and a species of spider which we have tentatively identified as the white widow," British explorer Andrew Collins said.
© stock.xchngA gene that makes some people dislike Brussel sprouts was also present in Neanderthals
They have found that a gene in modern humans that makes some people dislike a bitter chemical called phenylthiocarbamide, or PTC, was also present in Neanderthals hundreds of thousands of years ago.
© Photo: HULTON Scientists have discovered Stone Age blacksmiths were using fire to make tools at least 72,000 years ago
The process transformed a stone called silcrete into an outstanding raw material for tool manufacture.
A new Twitter study by San Antonio Web data analytics firm Pearanalytics confirmed what many talk show hosts have been joking about: there's a lot of pointless prattle going on in the microblogging sphere.
After randomly sampling a public timeline of tweets - 140 character comments on Twitter - for 10 days, Pearanalytics found that 40.5 percent of the updates fell in the "pointless babble" category. An example: "I am eating a sandwich now."
After randomly sampling a public timeline of tweets - 140 character comments on Twitter - for 10 days, Pearanalytics found that 40.5 percent of the updates fell in the "pointless babble" category. An example: "I am eating a sandwich now."
A detailed examination of the wrist bones of several primate species challenges the notion that humans evolved their two-legged upright walking style from a knuckle-walking ancestor.
The same lines of evidence also suggest that knuckle-walking evolved at least two different times, making gorillas distinct from chimpanzees and bonobos.
"We have the most robust data I've ever seen on this topic," said Daniel Schmitt, a Duke University associate professor of evolutionary anthropology. "This model should cause everyone to re-evaluate what they've said before."
The same lines of evidence also suggest that knuckle-walking evolved at least two different times, making gorillas distinct from chimpanzees and bonobos.
"We have the most robust data I've ever seen on this topic," said Daniel Schmitt, a Duke University associate professor of evolutionary anthropology. "This model should cause everyone to re-evaluate what they've said before."
© Duke UniversityTracy Kivell relates how bones suggest human ancestors never knuckle-walked, while chimpanzees and gorillas evolved trait separately.
Built 3,000 years before the miracle of Stonehenge, this is Britain's oldest and best preserved house.
The remains of the strongly built shelter, discovered on the Isle of Man, provide a rare window into the domestic life of hunter-gatherers 9,000 years ago.
Unearthed by accident during extension work to the island's airport runway, the 23ft wide pit is giving up extraordinary archaeological secrets.
Most exciting is the revelation that the people of the mesolithic age, long regarded as nomads who wandered ancient Britain in search of food, were actually very good at settling down.
The remains of the strongly built shelter, discovered on the Isle of Man, provide a rare window into the domestic life of hunter-gatherers 9,000 years ago.
Unearthed by accident during extension work to the island's airport runway, the 23ft wide pit is giving up extraordinary archaeological secrets.
Most exciting is the revelation that the people of the mesolithic age, long regarded as nomads who wandered ancient Britain in search of food, were actually very good at settling down.
© Oxford Archaeology NorthExcavation nears completion of the Mesolithic house, defined by a ring of holes which once contained wooden posts
