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n1 writes:

Mya Systems (short for "my assistant") has developed an AI that can streamline the recruitment process in multiple ways, including approving resumes, garnering further information on candidates, asking pay-related follow up questions, and scheduling interviews. The AI chatbot — designed to work in tandem with humans rather than replacing them — has the potential to free up human recruiters and lessen the bureaucratic aspects of the hiring process. Its founder, Eyal Grayevesky, told CNN tech that "Recruiters are overwhelmed with so much work because they're doing boilerplate tasks."

Since its launch in 2016, the technology has already been adopted by Fortune 500 companies in banking, consulting and retail sectors: Mya's website reports that it has been phenomenally successful, averaging a 9.8 out of 10 on overall candidate experience, increasing recruiting output by 200%, and reducing overheads by 80%. An additional $11.8 million in funding, acquired earlier this week, may help Grayevesky achieve his goal of eliminating frictional employment — the market failure of a decrease in efficiency due to people being in between jobs.

Source: World Economic Forum

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takyon writes:

The Associated Press reports that despite the rapid adoption of body cameras in major cities, policies do not typically require mandatory use of body cameras during uniformed "off-duty" side jobs:

When police officers in America's cities put on their uniforms and grab their weapons before moonlighting in security jobs at nightclubs, hospitals, and ballparks, there's one piece of equipment they often leave behind - their body camera. That's because most police agencies that make the cameras mandatory for patrol shifts don't require or won't allow body cameras for off-duty officers even if they're working in uniform, leaving a hole in policies designed to increase oversight and restore confidence in law enforcement.

Police departments contend that they have only a limited number of body cameras or that there are too many logistical hurdles and costs involved. But that argument doesn't sit well with those who say it shouldn't matter whether an officer is on patrol or moonlighting at a shopping mall. "As long as they have real bullets, they need to have the body cameras," said John Barnett, a civil rights leader in Charlotte, North Carolina, where shootings involving police have put use of the cameras under scrutiny.

An Associated Press survey of the 20 biggest U.S. cities found that nearly all have officers wearing or testing body cameras, but that only five - Houston; San Antonio; San Francisco; Fort Worth, Texas; and San Jose, California - have rules requiring them for uniformed officers working outside their regular hours.

Of course, even mandatory body camera policies are not perfect:

Houston's new Chief of Police Art Acevedo pledged to make some changes to the department's body-camera program after a KHOU investigation revealed it has fallen short of its promises. [...] "I want to make it very clear to our men and women that if they have a critical incident and they don't have that thing on, and without excuse or justification, they're going to have some significant consequences," Acevedo said.

That warning comes after KHOU 11 Investigates discovered several problems in the early months of HPD's body-camera program. The Harris County District Attorney's office identified more than 700 cases with missing or unaccounted body-camera video.

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n1 writes:

Some have believed that China is Tesla’s most lucrative opportunity. A new report makes it look like that opportunity has been lost. “China plans to halt issuing permits to produce electric vehicles because of concern additional approvals may lead to a glut in the world’s biggest auto market,”Bloomberg reports. Without permits, no Chinese production. Without Chinese production, no chance to gain relevance in a market surrounded by high custom barriers, and subsidies that favor domestics. Without the world’s largest EV market, no chance for Tesla to maintain scale and relevance in the world.

There have been occasional rumors of Tesla starting production in China, and each time, it turned out to be wishful thinking. Chinese production never was as easy as the many -- always false -- rumors made it sound.

• No foreign OEM may produce a car in China on its own. An at least 50:50 joint venture with a domestic maker is needed. There is talk that this may change some day, but so far, it has not.
• Then there is the “strong suggestion” by the Chinese government to sell that domestically produced electric vehicle under a new Chinese brand, owned by the joint venture. There is no foreign-branded EV made in China. A few weeks ago, an electric car joint venture between Volkswagen and Anhui Jianghuai Automobile (JAC Motors) to make electric cars has been approved by Chinese authorities. The EVs “will be made and sold under a new brand and logo,” state-run Xinhua news wire reported. Its brand is Tesla’s strongest suit. In China, it would go wasted.
• Then, to qualify for subsidies by the central government, the batteries used in the electric vehicle must be from an approved manufacturer, a source with in-depth knowledge of the business told me. There are only three approved battery makers, I was told, and they are all Chinese: BYD, Lishen, and CATL. Most of the value of an EV is in the battery.
• And finally, the joint venture must secure a long list of licenses. The toughest to get is the one from the National Development and Reform Commission [NDRC], essentially the state planner. According to the Bloomberg report, the NDRC stopped issuing these licenses, after handing out 15 of them since 2016. The Volkswagen/JAC JV was the last enterprise to get one.

Source: Forbes [behind an ad-block blocker.]

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takyon writes:

A global study of invasive species has identified "hotspots" where ecosystems are dominated by invasive plants and animals:

Scientists say islands and mainland coastal regions are global "hotspots" for alien species. They are calling for more effective measures to stop further introductions of plants and animals into vulnerable ecosystems.

[...] Alien species are plants or animals that are non-native (or alien) to an ecosystem and whose introduction is likely to cause harm. International researchers studied data on eight groups of plants and animals across 186 island and 423 mainland regions.

[...] The top three global "hotspots" for alien species are the Hawaiian Islands, the North Island of New Zealand and Indonesia's Lesser Sunda Islands. [...] Among coastal mainland regions, Florida in the US is the top hotspot, with invasive ants and reptiles such as the Burmese python. Islands and mainland coastal regions are thought to have higher numbers of established alien plants and animals because they contain major points of entry such as ports.

Global hotspots and correlates of alien species richness across taxonomic groups (open, DOI: 10.1038/s41559-017-0186) (DX)

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Arthur T Knackerbracket has found the following story:

Too many times we have heard the phrase "rain stops play" at the annual Wimbledon tennis tournament from London, England, and given the climate in the UK and the fact that the championships began back in 1877, it must have been uttered many times.

However, there aren't many sporting events that need specific and precise weather conditions in order to be able to proceed.

Sailing, and in particular the America's Cup, is one such event where the direction and strength of the wind is a key factor in determining the success of this regatta.

[...] Since the beginning, the weather, and in particular the winds, have taken their toll on the teams participating, with strong, gusting winds capsizing the New Zealand team on Tuesday, June 6. The following day's racing planned for June 7 was postponed due to the high winds.

[...] And now sailing experts are saying the light air pattern currently in place across Bermuda could be a game changer, and if the winds stay below 12 knots, the teams have to change equipment and tactics once again.

-- submitted from IRC

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Arthur T Knackerbracket has found the following story:

According to a recent report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), 2016 was a record year for electric vehicle (EV) sales. More than 750,000 EVs were sold worldwide last year, compared to 547,220 sold in 2015.

Transportation makes up a significant portion of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions—14 percent globally according to a 2014 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report. In the US, cars and trucks account for nearly one-fifth of greenhouse gas emissions.

The transportation sector is a stubborn one to clean up, too. An example can be found in California, where even as carbon-reducing policies have brought GHG emissions from the energy sector down to 20 percent, transportation still currently makes up 40 percent of the state's emissions, according to a recent statement from the state's Public Utilities commissioner.

Alternative-fuel vehicles are important to hitting emissions goals, but the IEA report says that currently, there is not enough momentum behind plug-in cars without strong policies incentivizing adoption, like tax credits and zero-emissions vehicles lanes.

[...] 2016 showed that if certain incentives are taken away, sales falter. Such a scenario played out in the Netherlands where tax incentives were gradually phased out for Plug In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV), which dropped PHEV sales by 50 percent. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs), however, weren't affected by the tax, and sales grew by 47 percent.

In Denmark, too, the country started reinstating registration taxes after years of exemptions for EVs and ended some government procurement programs. As a result, the country saw a 68 percent drop in electric car sales in 2016. New Danish incentives will be added this year, however—the country will begin offering a purchase tax rebate on EVs based on battery capacity—which ought to produce an interesting data point to next year's report.

-- submitted from IRC

Original Submission

Arthur T Knackerbracket has found the following story:

A chemical currently being used to ward off mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus and a commonly used insecticide that was threatened with a ban in the United States have been associated with reduced motor function in Chinese infants, a University of Michigan study found.

Researchers at the U-M School of Public Health and U-M Center for Human Growth and Development tested children in China and found exposure to the chemical naled via their mothers during pregnancy was associated with 3-4 percent lower fine motor skills scores at age 9 months for those in the top 25 percent of naled exposure, compared to those in the lowest 25 percent of exposure. Infants exposed to chlorpyrifos scored 2-7 percent lower on a range of key gross and fine motor skills.

Girls appeared to be more sensitive to the negative effects of the chemicals than boys.

Naled is one of the chemicals being used in several U.S. states to combat the mosquito that transmits Zika. Chlorpyrifos, around since the 1960s, is used on vegetables, fruit and other crops to control pests.

Both are insecticides called organophosphates, a class of chemicals that includes nerve agents like sarin gas. They inhibit an enzyme involved in the nerve signaling process, paralyzing insects and triggering respiratory failure. However, they may adversely impact health through other mechanisms at lower exposure levels that are commonly encountered in the environment.

In the children studied, naled affected fine motor skills or the small movements of hands, fingers, face, mouth and feet. Chlorpyrifos was associated with lower scores for both gross (large movements of arms and legs) and fine motor skills.

-- submitted from IRC

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takyon writes:

A remastered version of Age of Empires is being released for the game's 20th anniversary:

Microsoft is updating the game for 2017 with a modernized interface and gameplay refinements. In addition, said Isgreen, "We've re-orchestrated and re-recorded the entire soundtrack to the game" with a symphony. Multiplayer will be available via Xbox Live. Microsoft previously remastered 1999's Age of Empires 2 — that upgrade, Age of Empires 2 HD, was released in 2013 on Steam. Forgotten Empires, the studio that developed Age of Empires 2 HD, is also making the Definitive Edition of Age of Empires.

Also at VentureBeat and PC Gamer.

Official website. Trailer.

Original Submission

takyon writes:

Bethesda will partner with modders to release new premium content for Fallout 4 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim:

Bethesda Games Studio is launching Creation Club, a service for PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One, this summer.

Bethesda's new Creation Club will contain a series of mods developed for Fallout 4 and The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim Special Edition both by Bethesda and "outside developers," including those from the games' communities. These will include weapons, abilities and gameplay, according to Bethesda. A trailer above, from the publisher's E3 2017 press conference, shows a few of these in action.

[...] Yet the publisher also stated that Creation Club is not equivalent to "paid mods," similar to what it used to sell through Steam Workshop.

Bethesda will pay approved mod developers:

Creators are required to submit documentation pitches which go through an approval process. All content must be new and original. Once a concept is approved, a development schedule with Alpha, Beta and Release milestones is created. Creations go through our full development pipeline, which Creators participate in. Bethesda Game Studios developers work with Creators to iterate and polish their work along with full QA cycles. The content is fully localized, as well. This ensures compatibility with the original game, official add-ons and achievements. [...] Just like our own game developers, Creators are paid for their work and start receiving payment as soon as their proposal is accepted and through development milestones.

Also at PC Gamer, Kotaku, Gamespot, Gamasutra, and GamesRadar+.

Did you hear that?

Original Submission

Fnord666 writes:

Our mobile phones can reveal a lot about ourselves: where we live and work; who our family, friends and acquaintances are; how (and even what) we communicate with them; and our personal habits. With all the information stored on them, it isn't surprising that mobile device users take steps to protect their privacy, like using PINs or passcodes to unlock their phones.

The research that we and our colleagues are doing identifies and explores a significant threat that most people miss: More than 70 percent of smartphone apps are reporting personal data to third-party tracking companies like Google Analytics, the Facebook Graph API or Crashlytics.

When people install a new Android or iOS app, it asks the user's permission before accessing personal information. Generally speaking, this is positive. And some of the information these apps are collecting are necessary for them to work properly: A map app wouldn't be nearly as useful if it couldn't use GPS data to get a location.

But once an app has permission to collect that information, it can share your data with anyone the app's developer wants to – letting third-party companies track where you are, how fast you're moving and what you're doing.

An app doesn't just collect data to use on the phone itself. Mapping apps, for example, send your location to a server run by the app's developer to calculate directions from where you are to a desired destination.

The app can send data elsewhere, too. As with websites, many mobile apps are written by combining various functions, precoded by other developers and companies, in what are called third-party libraries. These libraries help developers track user engagement, connect with social media and earn money by displaying ads and other features, without having to write them from scratch.

However, in addition to their valuable help, most libraries also collect sensitive data and send it to their online servers – or to another company altogether. Successful library authors may be able to develop detailed digital profiles of users. For example, a person might give one app permission to know their location, and another app access to their contacts. These are initially separate permissions, one to each app. But if both apps used the same third-party library and shared different pieces of information, the library's developer could link the pieces together.

Users would never know, because apps aren't required to tell users what software libraries they use. And only very few apps make public their policies on user privacy; if they do, it's usually in long legal documents a regular person won't read, much less understand.

Source: The Conversation

Related:
Corporate Surveillance in Everyday Life

Original Submission

An Anonymous Coward writes:

Dr. Lowe, from In the Pipeline, writes:

Not to get too philosophical, but all our physical sensations from the outside world have to be mediated by some sort of receptor in our own bodies. Heat, cold, pressure, pain, pleasure – these are all constructs of our mental processing, but they (generally!) have physical referents. Our sensation of eyesight, for example, is a mental construct, with rather large and specially formed brain regions dedicated to it, but these layers of neurons are responding to impulses coming up the optic nerve, which in turn are set off by the receptors in the retina and their behavior when various wavelength of light hit them. Going further, those rhodopsin receptors are changing shape as retinal molecules isomerize when light hits them – vision comes down to a cis/trans double bond switch; that the spring from which everything flows, the first domino in the mighty chain.

The same goes for all our other physical sensations. The TRPV family of ion channels, for example, is what mediates the taste sensations of garlic and hot peppers, and contribute (as you'd figure) to feelings of heat and pain. The TRPM family is all over the place, but TRPM8 is responsible for the sensation of cold (and for the "cool" sensation of menthol, eucapyltol, and other compounds). In the same way that rhodopsin is balanced on a knife edge, to be tipped over by light hitting it, TRPM8 is similarly balanced so that its conformation changes as the temperature drops, which sets off changes in calcium flux and further messages inside the cells where it's expressed.

[...] So this area would be a good example to bring up when it's time to talk about how complex human biology gets, and how much we don't know about it. Everything from "I feel cold" or "Boy, that's a spicy Thai curry" to a whole list of serious diseases is tied together, in ways that are only partly understood, and which are obscured by big piles of functionality that we don't know anything about at all.

http://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2017/06/09/the-great-untangling

Original Submission

Fnord666 writes:

Researchers from the University of Zurich have simulated the formation of our entire Universe with a large supercomputer. A gigantic catalogue of about 25 billion virtual galaxies has been generated from 2 trillion digital particles. This catalogue is being used to calibrate the experiments on board the Euclid satellite, that will be launched in 2020 with the objective of investigating the nature of dark matter and dark energy.

Over a period of three years, a group of astrophysicists from the University of Zurich has developed and optimised a revolutionary code to describe with unprecedented accuracy the dynamics of dark matter and the formation of large-scale structures in the Universe. As Joachim Stadel, Douglas Potter and Romain Teyssier report in their recently published paper, the code (called PKDGRAV3) has been designed to use optimally the available memory and processing power of modern supercomputing architectures, such as the "Piz Daint" supercomputer of the Swiss National Computing Center (CSCS). The code was executed on this world-leading machine for only 80 hours, and generated a virtual universe of two trillion (i.e., two thousand billion or 2 x 10¹²) macro-particles representing the dark matter fluid, from which a catalogue of 25 billion virtual galaxies was extracted

Thanks to the high precision of their calculation, featuring a dark matter fluid evolving under its own gravity, the researchers have simulated the formation of small concentration of matter, called dark matter halos, in which we believe galaxies like the Milky Way form. The challenge of this simulation was to model galaxies as small as one tenth of the Milky Way, in a volume as large as our entire observable Universe. This was the requirement set by the European Euclid mission, whose main objective is to explore the dark side of the Universe.

Source: University of Zurich

Journal Reference:
Douglas Potter, Joachim Stadel, Romain Teyssier. PKDGRAV3: beyond trillion particle cosmological simulations for the next era of galaxy surveys. Computational Astrophysics and Cosmology, 2017; 4 (1) DOI: 10.1186/s40668-017-0021-1

Original Submission

An Anonymous Coward writes:

Use of diabetic donor kidneys has been a necessary response to the donor organ shortage. Recipients of diabetic donor kidneys have higher mortality risk compared with recipients of nondiabetic donor kidneys.

[...] Diabetic donor kidneys appear associated with higher mortality risk compared with nondiabetic donor kidneys, but offer greater survival benefit compared with remaining on the waitlist for many candidates. Patients with high risk of mortality on the waitlist at centers with long wait times appear to benefit most from transplantation with diabetic donor kidneys.

[...] In a 2001 OPTN registry study, Ojo et al. demonstrated that transplantation with a marginal donor kidney increased patients’ life expectancy by up to 10 years compared with patients who remained on the waitlist

Is there anyone that you would be willing to donate a kidney for?

Is there anyone who would do the same for you?

http://cjasn.asnjournals.org/content/12/6/974
http://www.lkdn.org/paired_kidney_exchange.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/health/lives-forever-linked-through-kidney-transplant-chain-124.html

Original Submission

takyon writes:

A noted art collector and philanthropist has sold a major painting for an eye-popping $165 million to raise money for criminal justice reform.

Agnes Gund sold Roy Lichtenstein's 1962 work Masterpiece, reportedly to billionaire hedge fund manager and art collector Steve Cohen. The sale apparently took place months ago; an art industry newsletter reported on the transaction in January, but Gund would not confirm it.

On Monday, The New York Times confirmed that the sale was real, noting that the painting becomes one of the 15 most expensive pieces of art known to have been sold. And the newspaper revealed that Gund sold the piece "for a specific purpose: to create a fund that supports criminal justice reform and seeks to reduce mass incarceration in the United States."

Source: NPR

Original Submission

Fnord666 writes:

Virtually every processor you see is based on the same basic (Von Neumann) computing model: they're designed to access large chunks of sequential data and fill their caches as often as possible. This isn't the quickest way to accomplish every task, however, and the American military wants to explore an entirely different kind of chip. DARPA is spending $80 million to fund the development of the world's first graph analytic processor. The HIVE (Hierarchical Identify Verify Exploit) accesses random, 8-byte data points from the system's global memory, crunching each of those points individually. That's a much faster approach for handling large data, which frequently involves many relationships between info sets. It's also extremely scalable, so you can use as many HIVE chips as you need to accomplish your goals.

The agency isn't alone in its work: Intel, Qualcomm and Northrop Grumman are involved, as are researchers at Georgia Tech and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Source: Engadget

Additional Resources:

• DARPA
• EETimes
• TheNextBigFuture

Original Submission