Friday, February 24, 2023

Materializing international trade of decarbonized hydrogen by optimizing economic and environmental aspects

Hydrogen (H2) has long been heralded as a promising alternative energy source that can replace fossil fuels, and as a means of achieving carbon neutrality by eliminating carbon dioxide emissions. Despite this potential, the high costs associated with storage and transportation have remained a significant roadblock in realizing a true H2 economy. In the past, the cost of storing and transporting H2 was incredibly prohibitive, however continued research and innovation in the field has seen the development of cost-effective solutions, such as cryogenic storage tanks, liquid hydrogen tankers, and pipelines. As well, the advancements in fuel cell technology have allowed for the combustion of hydrogen with greater efficiency and safety. All this has drastically reduced storage and transportation costs, and allowed for a greater range of applications for H2, from cars to homes and ships. The continued exploration of hydrogen energy solutions opens up a world of opportunity to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and to achieve carbon neutrality through the use of clean, renewable energy sources. The development of cost-effective systems for the storage and transportation of hydrogen has the potential to revolutionize the way energy is generated, stored and used, and has the capacity to revolutionize the global economy.

https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-technology-news/materializing-international-trade-of-decarbonized-hydrogen-by-optimizing-economic-and-environmental-aspects

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Social inequities reflected in wait times: The poor wait longer

Waiting is something nobody enjoys, whether it's standing in line at the grocery store or spending too long in a doctor's waiting room. Unfortunately, a new study has revealed that lower income and Black Americans are often subjected to longer wait times than their wealthier, white counterparts. The study, conducted by researchers at the Harvard Business School and Stanford Medicine, looked at wait times for doctor’s appointments across the US. After examining over 10 million appointments, the researchers found that African-American patients and those from lower-income families waited approximately five minutes longer than white and higher-earning patients. The study showed that this increased wait time was consistent across all specialties, for everyone from primary care physicians to specialists. Researchers were unsure what was causing the discrepancy, but hypothesized that biased scheduling practices may be to blame. The study reinforced a disturbing pattern of institutional bias that affects African Americans in particular, from healthcare to the criminal justice system. The disparity between wait times for different races and economic classes serves as another reminder of the discrimination and privilege that still exists today. A new study has revealed the shocking truth: lower-income and Black Americans are subject to longer waiting times in doctor's appointments than their wealthier, white counterparts. Researchers from the Harvard Business School and Stanford Medicine studied 10 million doctor appointments and found that African-American patients and those from a lower income family waited an average of five minutes longer than their white, higher-earning counterparts. This increased wait time was consistent across all specialties, from primary care physicians to specialists. The researchers suspect bias scheduling practices are the cause of this unfair disparity, a heartbreaking reminder of discrimination and privilege that still exists in today's society.

https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/social-inequities-reflected-in-wait-times-the-poor-wait-longer

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Optimizing nitrogen application for sustainable rice production in China

Food security and environmental quality are two very important issues that need to be addressed simultaneously. In order to do this in a responsible and efficient manner, managing nitrogen inputs in rice production is of the utmost importance. However, previous research has neglected to consider the significant variability in yield performance among fields of smallholder farmers. For smallholder farmers, understanding the variables that affect their yield is of great importance. It is necessary to consider factors such as soil nutrient content, irrigation, and crop management systems. Good soil management is necessary, as this helps to conserve water, maintain soil fertility, and reduce external inputs. In addition, efficient use of nitrogen is important, as excessive use can cause water contamination and contribute to air and water pollution. Increasingly, farmers are turning to sustainable techniques such as integrated crop management, water and soil conservation, and water-saving irrigation systems. Leveraging these techniques promotes long-term sustainability and productivity of smallholder farms. By understanding the various factors that influence yield performance on smallholder farms, farmers can be better equipped to manage their fields in a way that balances food security and environmental quality. Therefore, it is important for the agricultural research and development sector to explore this underexplored aspect of food security and environmental quality. This article seeks to address the dual challenge of food security and environmental quality by highlighting the importance of managing nitrogen inputs in rice production in a responsible and efficient manner. It also emphasises the need to consider the variability in yield performance between smallholder farmers in order to better equip them with sustainable strategies that promote productivity and sustainability for the long term.

https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/optimizing-nitrogen-application-for-sustainable-rice-production-in-china

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A universal domain adaptation technique for remote sensing image classification

Domain Adaptation Approaches: The Solution to Insufficient Annotated Data Data annotation is a critical step in the development of computational models, and insufficiently annotated data can be a major impediment for building an effective model for a given task. Domain adaptation approaches provide a potential solution to this issue, enabling the transfer of knowledge from sources where there is a large amount of annotated data to the target domain where annotation is scarce. These techniques can thus improve the performance of computational models in target domains, even with minimal annotated data. The two main approaches employed in domain adaptation are based on either feature representation or model parameters. With feature representation, knowledge from the source domain is transferred to the target domain in the form of a feature map. On the other hand, model parameter transfer utilizes weights and biases from a pre-trained model to reduce the training time for the target model. Both of these approaches have their advantages and disadvantages, and careful consideration must be taken when selecting the most suitable for a given application. Overall, domain adaptation techniques are an extremely valuable tool for overcoming the issue of low annotated data. By utilizing knowledge from a large source domain, these techniques can improve the performance of models in target domains even when data annotation is scarce. As the demand for effective machine learning models in real-world applications continues to grow, domain adaptation approaches are likely to become increasingly important.

https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-technology-news/a-universal-domain-adaptation-technique-for-remote-sensing-image-classification

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Facebook, Instagram roll out paid subscription in Australia, New Zealand

Facebook and Instagram have both announced their first paid verification service, allowing users to pay for features that have previously been free. This rollout began taking effect on Friday, and is expected to last for a full week. With this paid service, users will have access to new features and tools that will help them gain credibility and a larger presence on the social media platforms. Users of Facebook and Instagram will now have the choice of adding a verification badge on their official pages and profiles for a fee. This service will provide social media users with access to new tools and features to help them stand out from other users and increase their visibility. The verification badge will also help users gain credibility, as it is a sign of trust from the platforms. The introduction of a paid verification service on Facebook and Instagram is seen as an important move to monetise the two platforms. It reflects a push to keep users on the platforms longer and to bring in more money, while also providing users with the opportunity to make their profile stand out. Facebook and Instagram's paid verification service is offering users the chance to pay for features that were previously free. This week-long rollout of the service has begun on Friday and allows users to purchase a verification badge that will increase their visibility and help them gain credibility on the social media platforms. It is hoped that this new feature will monetise the two platforms, while also providing users with an opportunity to stand out and increase their presence online.

https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-technology-news/facebook-instagram-roll-out-paid-subscription-in-australia-new-zealand

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Making engineered cells dance to ultrasound

Moving an individual cell from one place to another can be a tricky task. Fortunately, there are various tools available to help perform this delicate procedure. Depending on the type of cell you need to move, specialized tweezers may be the optimal choice. These tweezers, which come in a variety of sizes and designs, are often used in the laboratory for cell manipulation due to their fine-tipped precision and ease of use. Alternatively, if the cell is located in a tight space, a tiny shovel might be the best tool for the job. This specialized tool can be used to scoop up the cell without damaging or pushing it out of reach. For any micro manipulation, it is important to have the right tools for the job in order to have success. Choosing the best tool for your situation will help ensure that you are able to move your individual cell and get the results you are looking for. When it comes to moving an individual cell, tweezers and a tiny shovel are both highly effective tools that can make the process much easier.

https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/making-engineered-cells-dance-to-ultrasound

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