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takyon writes:

Researchers have created an artificial synapse that requires just 1.23 × 10^-15 Joules per "synaptic event":

An artificial synapse that emulates a biological synapse while requiring less energy has been developed by Pohang University Of Science & Technology (POSTECH) researchers in Korea. A human synapse consumes an extremely small amount of energy (~10 fJ or femtojoules per synaptic event), and an entire human brain consumes only as much energy as a domestic light bulb, but can outperform a supercomputer in many aspects, according to the researchers.

The researchers have fabricated an organic nanofiber (ONF), or organic nanowire (ONW), electronic device that emulates the important working principles and energy consumption of biological synapses while requiring only ~1 fJ per synaptic event. The ONW also emulates the morphology (form) of a synapse. [...] The researchers say they have emulated important working principles of a biological synapse, such as paired-pulse facilitation (PPF), short-term plasticity (STP), long-term plasticity (LTP), spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP), and spike-rate dependent plasticity (SRDP).

Organic core-sheath nanowire artificial synapses with femtojoule energy consumption (open, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1501326)

Original Submission

mendax writes:

The New York Times is reporting:

Two explosions at Turkey’s largest airport left at least 10 people dead and wounded some 20 others on Tuesday night, according to Turkish authorities and television reports.

The Turkish justice minister, Bekir Bozdag, said 10 people had been killed in an attack on Ataturk airport. He said that one attacker fired an automatic weapon before detonating explosives.

Another Turkish government official said that the police fired shots at two suspected attackers at the entryway to the airport’s international terminal, in an effort to stop them before they reached the building’s security checkpoint. The two suspects then blew themselves up, the official said.

CNN Turk reported that one suicide bomber detonated explosives inside the terminal building and another outside in a parking lot.

[...] Ataturk airport has expanded in recent years and is now the third busiest in Europe, ranked by the annual number of passengers, after Heathrow in London and Charles de Gaulle in Paris.

While normally this kind of news would not necessarily be appropriate, at least in my view, for Soylent News, I submitted it because of this story posted here on Sunday, in which NASA cancels all travel for its personnel to the COSPAR meeting in Istanbul. It seems that NASA may have been very prescient and wise.

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"fork(2)" writes:

From phys.org we learn that common statistical methods which are used to analyze brain activity images taken with fMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scanners may not be trustworthy. From the article:

[Anders] Eklund [...] tested the analysis methods by using them on known, reliable data. The methods showed false activity in the brain in 60 percent of the cases. A reasonable figure is five percent.

The analysis methods were previously only validated against simulated data, but Dr Eklund pointed out back in 2012, in his doctoral thesis, that the results are not always reliable. The statistical methods used are built on a number of assumptions; if one or more of the assumptions are incorrect, the results will also be incorrect. At that time, critics maintained that errors could certainly arise if data from a single person was analysed, but that the errors would even out in group analyses.

In his thesis, Dr Eklund proposed another method in which few assumptions are made and significantly more calculations - a thousand times more - are done, which yields a significantly more certain result. With the help of modern graphics cards, the processing time can be reduced so that the method is usable in practice.

[...] Dr Eklund now used the current analysis methods and compared 20 healthy people with 20 other healthy people. In other words, there should not have been any differences - or, in any case only the five percent that chance provides. In total he made three million comparisons of randomly selected groups with data from 499 healthy persons.

"The differences were considerably greater than five percent, up to 60 percent in the worst case," Dr Eklund says.

This means that the analyses could have shown positive results where there shouldn't have been any, thereby indicating brain activity where there was no activity.

He also analysed the same data set with his more calculation-heavy method and obtained a considerably better correspondence, with differences in the expected five percent of cases.

The paper will appear in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. A preprint is available on ArXiv.

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takyon writes:

Well? Are you ready?

Imagine if doctors could precisely insert a tiny amount of a custom drug into a specific circuit in your brain and improve your depression (or other mood problems) — instead of treating the entire brain. That's exactly what Duke University researchers have explored in mice. Stress-susceptible animals that appeared depressed or anxious were restored to relatively normal behavior this way, according to a study appearing in the forthcoming July 20 issue of Neuron. The plan was to define specific glitches in the neural circuits and then use a drug to fix them. The ambitious goal: go from a protein, to a signaling activity, to a cell, to a circuit, to activity that happens across the whole brain, to actual behavior.

The team started by precisely placing arrays of 32 electrodes in four brain areas of the mice [...] Then they recorded brain activity as these mice were subjected to a stressful situation called chronic social defeat.* This allowed the researchers to observe the activity between the prefrontal cortex and three areas of the limbic system that are implicated in major depression. To interpret the complicated data coming from the electrodes, the team used machine learning algorithms — identifying which parts of the data seemed to be the timing control signal between the prefrontal cortex and the limbic system— and then zeroed in on the individual neurons involved in that cortical signal and its corresponding circuit.

They then applied engineered molecules called DREADD (Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drug), developed by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill pharmacologist Bryan Roth, in very tiny amounts (0.5 microliter). A drug that attaches only to that DREADD is then administered to give the researchers control over the circuit. They found that direct stimulation of PFC-amygdala neural circuitry with DREADDs normalized PFC-dependent limbic synchrony in stress-susceptible animals and restored normal behavior. The researchers suggest that their findings also demonstrate an interdisciplinary approach that can be used to identify the large-scale network changes that underlie complex emotional pathologies and the specific network nodes that can be used to develop targeted interventions.

Dysregulation of Prefrontal Cortex-Mediated Slow-Evolving Limbic Dynamics Drives Stress-Induced Emotional Pathology (DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2016.05.038)

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-- OriginalOwner_ writes:

Gamereactor UK reports

Back when Sony and Microsoft revealed their seventh generation consoles, the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, they were in a war of who could shove the most bullet points onto their spec sheets.

That war [...] probably [...] played a part in the fact that you could install and run the Linux operating system on early models of the PS3.

Sony later removed the Linux option with a software update, as hackers had discovered that they could use it to circumvent anti-piracy functions on the console. But removing the Linux features--which Sony had advertised in the marketing of the console--pissed off a bunch of people.

Ars Technica continues

After six years of litigation, Sony is now agreeing to pay the price for its 2010 firmware update that removed support for the Linux operating system in the PlayStation 3.

Sony and lawyers representing as many as 10 million console owners reached the deal on [June 24]. Under the terms of the accord, (PDF) which has not been approved by a California federal judge yet, gamers are eligible to receive $55 if they used Linux on the console. The proposed settlement, which will be vetted by a judge next month, also provides $9 to each console owner that bought a PS3 based on Sony's claims about "Other OS" functionality.

[...] To get the $55, a gamer "must attest under oath to their purchase of the product and installation of Linux, provide proof of their purchase or serial number and PlayStation Network Sign-in ID, and submit some proof of their use of the Other OS functionality".

To get the $9, PS3 owners must submit a claim that, at the time they bought their console, they "knew about the Other OS, relied upon the Other OS functionality, and intended to use the Other OS functionality".

Previous:
PlayStation 4 Hacked to Run Linux
Sony BMG Rootkit Scandal: 10 Years Later

Original Submission

fork(2) writes:

Over on Ars Technica :

The Seychelles-based VPN provider Proxy.sh has withdrawn an exit node from its warrant canary -- a statement certifying that "to the date of publication, no warrants, searches, or seizures that have not been reported in our Transparency Report, have actually taken place."

The blog post in question simply states: "We would like to inform our users that we do not wish any longer to mention France 8 (85.236.153.236) in our warrant canary until further notice." The statement implies that the France 8 node has been subject to a warrant, but that a gag order forbids Proxy.sh from revealing that fact directly. It is not clear who served the warrant, and for obvious reasons, Proxy.sh is unable to say.

However, the TorrentFreak site obtained the following comment from Proxy.sh: "We recommend our users to no longer connect to it. We are striving to do whatever it takes to include that node into our warrant canary again."

Proxy.sh went on to say: "The warrant canary has been particularly designed to make sure we could still move without being legally able to answer questions in a more detailed manner. We are happy to see it put to use after all and that our users are made aware of it."

Another site, VPNCompare.co.uk, which seems to have been the first to notice the withdrawal of the warrant canary, pointed out that despite Proxy.sh's warning, "The France 8 server coupled with their French servers in general continue to be some of the most utilised of their network."

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takyon writes:

A CDC panel has concluded that a spray version of the influenza vaccine is ineffective and shouldn't be used during the 2016-2017 flu season:

What led to the abrupt fall of FluMist — the nasal spray version of influenza vaccine — which until recently was considered the first choice for younger children? On Wednesday, an advisory panel to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concluded that the spray version was so ineffective, it shouldn't be used by anyone during the 2016-2017 flu season.

Just two years ago, that same Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices [ACIP] recommended FluMist as the preferred alternative for most kids ages 2-8, after reviewing several studies from 2006-2007 that suggested the spray was more effective in kids than the injectable forms of the vaccine.

What changed to make the spray so much less effective than studies had shown it to be in the past? The bottom line is that right now "we don't understand what it is," said David Kimberlin, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, who said academic researchers and those at MedImmune, the subsidiary of Astra Zeneca that makes FluMist, are working to get answers.

AstraZeneca, the maker of FluMist, says its own numbers conflict with the CDC's. The ACIP recommendation must be reviewed by the CDC's director before it can become official policy. The FluMist spray comprises 8% of the projected vaccine supply for the upcoming flu season.

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Two Soylentils wrote in with news of a modern-day battle of David vs Goliath — a user who had had enough with an automated upgrade to Windows 10, took Microsoft to court, and won.

Woman Wins Lawsuit Over Unwanted Windows 10 Installation

Celestial writes:

A California woman has won $10,000 in compensation from Microsoft after Windows 10 automatically tried and failed to install on her Windows 7 computer.

The automatic install of Windows 10 failed, leaving her with a unstable and often unresponsive computer used to run her travel agency from an office in Sausalito, California.

Teri Goldstein reportedly said: "I had never heard of Windows 10. Nobody ever asked me if I wanted to update."

After attempting to fix the problem with Microsoft's support, Goldstein sued the company for a new computer and loss of earnings, winning $10,000. Microsoft dropped its appeal to avoid further legal expenses, leaving Microsoft footing the bill.

[...] In March, users started complaining that Windows 10 automatically started to install on their computers without their permission, leading some to hilarious interruptions to weather forecasts and pro-gaming sessions alike.

The forceful rollout has angered users, but has also boosted Windows 10 numbers, crossing 270 million users by the end of March 2016, running on 17.43% of the worlds' computers - second only to Windows 7 - according to data from Netmarketshare.

Whether the lawsuit and $10,000 judgment will spawn further suits over failed or forced Windows 10 installs remains to be seen. Goldstein has shown it's possible, which could open the floodgates.

Windows $10k has a certain ring to it.

[Continues...]

Arthur T Knackerbracket has found the following story:

The Hubble Space Telescope launched in 1990 and was originally expected to have a lifespan of just 15 years. It's far exceeded all expectations...

Now the Hubble Space Telescope has been officially granted a reprieve. The orbital telescope will remain operational until at least June 30, 2021, and is expected to continue beyond that point, according to a post on the NASA website.

Phys.org also has a story which notes:

NASA is contractually extending science operations for its Hubble Space Telescope an additional five years. The agency awarded a sole source contract extension Thursday to the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy for continued Hubble science operations support at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore.

This action will extend the period of performance from July 1 through June 30, 2021.

[...] After the final space shuttle servicing mission to the telescope in 2009, Hubble is better than ever. Hubble is expected to continue to provide valuable data into the 2020's, securing its place in history as an outstanding general purpose observatory in areas ranging from our solar system to the distant universe.

In 2018, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope will be launched into space as the premier observatory of the next decade, serving astronomers worldwide to build on Hubble's legacy of discoveries and help unlock some of the biggest mysteries of the universe.

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has a "segmented 6.5-meter (21 ft) diameter primary mirror" and will "offer unprecedented resolution and sensitivity from long-wavelength (orange-red) visible light, through near-infrared to the mid-infrared (0.6 to 27 micrometers)" whereas the Hubble Space Telescope has a 2.4-meter (7.9 ft) primary mirror and its "four main instruments observe in the near ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared spectra."

In short, the JWST is a supplement to Hubble, not a replacement — each telescope provides a different view of the optical spectrum.

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-- OriginalOwner_ writes:

WIS TV in Columbia, SC reports

The Supreme Court on Monday [June 27] upheld the broad reach of a federal law that bars people with misdemeanor domestic violence convictions from owning guns.

The justices rejected arguments that the law covers only intentional or knowing acts of abuse and not those committed recklessly--where a person is aware of the risk that an act will cause injury, but not certain it will. As examples, the court mentioned throwing a plate in the heat of an argument, or slamming a door.

The case involved two Maine men who said their guilty pleas for hitting their partners should not disqualify them from gun ownership.

[...] The case is notable [...] because when it was argued on Feb. 29 Justice Clarence Thomas asked a series of questions from the bench, the first time in 10 years that he'd asked a question.

[...] Thomas expressed concern at the argument that a misdemeanor conviction could deprive someone of their constitutional gun rights, pressing a government attorney for any other examples when that could happen. He returned to that issue in [his] dissenting opinion.

"Under the majority's reading, a single conviction under a state assault statute for recklessly causing an injury to a family member--such as by texting while driving--can now trigger a lifetime ban on gun ownership", he wrote, adding: "We treat no other constitutional right so cavalierly."

Justice Sonia Sotomayor joined Thomas' dissent in part, agreeing that if Congress wanted to cover all reckless conduct it could have written the law differently.

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HughPickens.com writes:

Employees and employers alike have the right under at-will employment laws in almost all states to end their relationship without notice, for any reason, but the two-week rule is a widely accepted standard of workplace conduct. Now Sue Shellenbarger writes at The Wall Street Journal that employers say a growing number of workers are leaving without giving two weeks' notice.

Some bosses blame young employees who feel frustrated by limited prospects or have little sense of attachment to their workplace. But employment experts say some older workers are quitting without notice as well. They feel overworked or unappreciated after years of laboring under pay cuts and expanded workloads imposed during the recession. One employee at Dupray, a customer-service rep, scheduled a meeting and announced she was quitting, then rose and headed for the exit. She seemed surprised when the director of human resources stopped her and explained that employees are expected to give two weeks' notice. "She said, 'I've been watching 'Suits,' and this is how it happens,' " referring to the TV drama set in a law firm.

According to Shellenbarger, quitting without notice is sometimes justified. Employees with access to proprietary information, such as those working in sales or new-product development, face a conflict of interest if they accept a job with a competitor. Employees in such cases typically depart right away—ideally, by mutual agreement. It can also be best to exit quickly if an employer is abusive, or if you suspect your employer is doing something illegal.

More often, however, quitting without notice "is done in the heat of emotion, by someone who is completely frustrated, angry, offended or upset," says David Lewis, president of OperationsInc., a Norwalk, Conn., human-resources consulting firm. That approach can burn bridges and generate bad references. Phyllis Hartman says employees have a responsibility to try to communicate about what's wrong. "Start figuring out if there is anything you can do to fix it. The worst that can happen is that nobody listens or they tell you no."

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GungnirSniper writes:

ESPN.com reports Johnny Manziel's attorney has withdrawn from his domestic violence case after inadvertently sending a text message to The Associated Press saying "Heaven help us if one of the conditions is to pee in a bottle," as part of a proposed plea deal. Between the rumor that Manziel spent over $1,000 at a drug paraphernalia store and his own father describing his son as "a druggie", Manziel's football career seems to be over.

Have you seen other inadvertently-sent messages leading to firings or professional embarrassment? Is there a technological solution to this human problem?

Original Submission

An Anonymous Coward writes:

While many pundits are trying to write the prequels to Brexit and bemoaning how the "stay" position wasn't properly communicated, the banks have forged ahead to Episode V and are quite happy to predict a recession for the UK in the next quarters. From https://www.poundsterlinglive.com/usd/5095-pound-to-dollar-exchange-rate-222311:

The British people have voted to leave the European Union, and this time they will take full ownership of any negative economic consequences - there are no bankers to blame for any negative economic impacts.

Bank of America's Ralf Preusser believes the UK is headed for recession as a result of the increased uncertainty businesses now face, noting:

"Prolonged uncertainty could lead investors - including residential investors - to postpone decisions. We think a recession in the UK will ensue, which cuts our calendar year 2017 GDP growth forecast to 0.2% from 2.3%, even with the Bank of England (BoE) stimulating."

[...] Barclays have confirmed they see GDP growth falling to -0.1% in the third and fourth quarters of 2016.

The Guardian has a slightly different Star Wars analogy, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jun/27/britain-boris-cricket-leave-lies-referendum-promises

"The pound is stable," explained Johnson, minutes before the pound was revealed to have fallen to a 31-year low, on a morning of financial activity we'll call Episode V: The Experts Strike Back.

At the time of writing [2016-06-28 @02:45 UTC], the current exchange rate has 1 GBP worth $1.331USD. One of the first hits on a search provided this 60-day historical perspective.

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mendax writes:

The New York Times is reporting that:

Volkswagen has agreed to pay nearly $15 billion to settle claims stemming from its diesel emissions cheating scandal in what would be one of the largest consumer class-action settlements ever in the United States.

The proposed settlement, valued at $14.7 billion and involving the federal government and lawyers representing the owners of about 475,000 Volkswagen vehicles, includes just over $10 billion to buy back affected cars at their pre-scandal values, and additional cash compensation for the owners, according to two people briefed on the settlement's terms.

The cash compensation offered to each car owner will range from $5,100 to $10,000, depending on their market value before Volkswagen's public admission last September that its supposed "clean diesel" cars had been deliberately designed to cheat on air-quality tests.

Rather than sell their vehicles back to Volkswagen, car owners can also choose to have their vehicles fixed to meet emissions standards, although doing so would probably reduce the engines' performance and gas mileage. And the methods for fixing the vehicles that Volkswagen has proposed are still subject to approval by the Environmental Protection Agency, one of the federal parties to the case.

My take? Not enough. VW ought to buy back these cars at what they were worth when NEW, and then pay as much again as punitive damages for the fraud committed upon the customer and the public. But what about the people such as myself who are sensitive to air pollution, and what about the fate of the VW executives and engineers who perpetrated these frauds, these criminal acts? I have yet to hear about any indictments.

Also covered at Ars Technica and Reuters .

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GungnirSniper writes:

The recession of nearly a decade ago continues to be blamed for a lot of things, including the shortage of Education majors. To address this teacher shortage, the Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools in the American state of Georgia has begun a program that will allow college graduates with a 2.5 or better GPA or other conditions to teach in the district as part of a work-as-you-go certification program. The district, with more than 38,000 students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12, believes the program will "bring in those people who have a lot of field knowledge and a lot of skills," said HR woman Heather Bilton.

Will these changes provide students with better, more enthusiastic teachers, or will it lower the quality of instruction?

Original Submission