Self-governing internet communities, in the form of games, social networks or informational websites, create their own rule systems that help groups of anonymous users work together. These self-governing internet communities, in the form of games, social networks or informational websites such as Wikipedia, create their own rule systems that help groups of anonymous users work…

Experts address whether the routine use of telehealth for patients with cancer could have long-lasting and unforeseen effects on the provision and quality of care. In an article published in JAMA Oncology, Trevor Royce, MD, MS, MPH, an assistant professor of radiation oncology at the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and UNC…

In addition to helping protect players from COVID-19, the NBA ‘bubble’ in Orlando may be a competitive equalizer by eliminating team travel. Researchers analyzing the results of nearly 500 NBA playoff games over six seasons found that a team’s direction of travel and the number of time zones crossed were associated with its predicted win…

Surgical patients who participate in virtual follow-up visits after their operations spend a similar amount of time with surgical team members as those who meet face-to-face. «I think it’s really valuable for patients to understand that, in the virtual space scenario, they are still going to get quality time with their surgical team,» said lead…

Researchers have published new findings that take a first look at the use of SARS-CoV-2 mathematical modeling to inform early statewide policies enacted to reduce the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in Colorado. Among other findings, the authors estimate that 97 percent of potential hospitalizations across the state in the early months of the pandemic…

Mathematical analysis of COVID mortality rates in the United States and Europe shows that second-wave mortality was often greatly reduced — particularly in wealthier European countries and the northeast of the U.S. Researchers say mortality change could have several explanations: European first-wave case counts were underestimated; First-wave deaths disproportionately affected the elderly; Second-wave infections tended…

A collaboration between computer scientists and nine major media companies will help the media industry understand and manage the significant carbon impacts of digital content. The 12-month collaboration, facilitated by sustainability experts, Carnstone, will see University of Bristol researchers working with sustainability and technology teams at the BBC, Dentsu Aegis Network, Informa, ITV, Pearson, RELX,…

A study leverages concepts from physics to model how campaign strategies influence the opinions of an electorate in a two-party system. Researchers created a numerical model that describes how external influences, modeled as a random field, shift the views of potential voters as they interact with each other in different political environments. The model accounts…

Mathematical modeling of disease spread suggests that herd immunity could be achieved with fewer vaccine doses by using Bluetooth-based contact-tracing apps to identify people who have more exposure to others — and targeting them for vaccination. The COVID-19 pandemic has raised questions about how to best allocate limited supplies of vaccines for the greatest benefit…

A new mathematical model for predicting infectious disease outbreaks incorporates fear — both of disease and of vaccines — to better understand how pandemics can occur in multiple waves of infections, like those we are seeing with COVID-19. Human behaviors like social distancing (which suppresses spread) and vaccine refusal (which promotes it) have shaped the…