Artificial Intelligence Bias in Health Care: Web-Based Survey.

BACKGROUND: Resources are increasingly spent on artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for medical applications aiming to improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases. While the need for transparency and reduction of bias in data and algorithm development has been addressed in past studies, little is known about the knowledge and perception of bias among AI developers. OBJECTIVE: This study's objective was to survey AI specialists in health care to investigate developers' perceptions of bias in AI algorithms for health care applications and their awareness and use of preventative measures. METHODS: A web-based survey was provided in both German and English language, comprising a maximum of 41 questions using branching logic within the REDCap web application. Only the results of participants with experience in the field of medical AI applications and complete questionnaires were included for analysis. Demographic data, technical expertise, and perceptions of fairness, as well as knowledge of biases in AI, were analyzed, and variations among gender, age, and work environment were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 151 AI specialists completed the web-based survey. The median age was 30 (IQR 26-39) years, and 67% (101/151) of respondents were male. One-third rated their AI development projects as fair (47/151, 31%) or moderately fair (51/151, 34%), 12% (18/151) reported their AI to be barely fair, and 1% (2/151) not fair at all. One participant identifying as diverse rated AI developments as barely fair, and among the 2 undefined gender participants, AI developments were rated as barely fair or moderately fair, respectively. Reasons for biases selected by respondents were lack of fair data (90/132, 68%), guidelines or recommendations (65/132, 49%), or knowledge (60/132, 45%). Half of the respondents worked with image data (83/151, 55%) from 1 center only (76/151, 50%), and 35% (53/151) worked with national data exclusively. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the perception of biases in AI overall is moderately fair. Gender minorities did not once rate their AI development as fair or very fair. Therefore, further studies need to focus on minorities and women and their perceptions of AI. The results highlight the need to strengthen knowledge about bias in AI and provide guidelines on preventing biases in AI health care applications.

NoRCEL's Engagement in Africa: The AstroScience Exploration Network (ASEN).

Abstract The AstroScience Exploration Network (ASEN) is the latest innovative initiative from the Network of Researchers on the Chemical Emergence of Life (NoRCEL). Materializing on the vibrancy of the African continent, recognizing its people as a key asset, and building on specific strategic advantages, ASEN will funnel the appetite for scientific knowledge through an educational hub that paves the way for the Global South to come to the fore in new global endeavors and will eventually help build a variety of career paths in a diversifying economy.

Orbital period change of Dimorphos due to the DART kinetic impact.

The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft successfully performed the first test of a kinetic impactor for asteroid deflection by impacting Dimorphos, the secondary of near-Earth binary asteroid (65803) Didymos, and changing the orbital period of Dimorphos. A change in orbital period of approximately 7 min was expected if the incident momentum from the DART spacecraft was directly transferred to the asteroid target in a perfectly inelastic collision1, but studies of the probable impact conditions and asteroid properties indicated that a considerable momentum enhancement (ß) was possible2,3. In the years before impact, we used lightcurve observations to accurately determine the pre-impact orbit parameters of Dimorphos with respect to Didymos4-6. Here we report the change in the orbital period of Dimorphos as a result of the DART kinetic impact to be -33.0 ± 1.0 (3σ) min. Using new Earth-based lightcurve and radar observations, two independent approaches determined identical values for the change in the orbital period. This large orbit period change suggests that ejecta contributed a substantial amount of momentum to the asteroid beyond what the DART spacecraft carried.

Comparison of Flow and Compression Properties of Four Lactose-Based Co-Processed Excipients: Cellactose® 80, CombiLac®, MicroceLac® 100, and StarLac®.

The utilization of co-processed excipients (CPEs) represents a novel approach to the preparation of orally disintegrating tablets by direct compression. Flow, consolidation, and compression properties of four lactose-based CPEs-Cellactose® 80, CombiLac®, MicroceLac® 100, and StarLac®-were investigated using different methods, including granulometry, powder rheometry, and tablet compaction under three pressures. Due to the similar composition and the same preparation technique (spray drying), the properties of CPEs and their compacts were generally comparable. The most pronounced differences were observed in flowability, undissolved fraction after 3 min and 24 h, energy of plastic deformation (E2), ejection force, consolidation behavior, and compact friability. Cellactose® 80 exhibited the most pronounced consolidation behavior, the lowest values of ejection force, and high friability of compacts. CombiLac® showed excellent flow properties but insufficient friability, except for compacts prepared at the highest compression pressure (182 MPa). MicroceLac® 100 displayed the poorest flow properties, lower ejection forces, and the best mechanical resistance of compacts. StarLac® showed excellent flow properties, the lowest amounts of undissolved fraction, the highest ejection force values, and the worst compact mechanical resistance. The obtained results revealed that higher compression pressures need to be used or further excipients have to be added to all tested materials in order to improve the friability and tensile strength of formed tablets, except for MicroceLac® 100.

Researcher engagement in policy deemed societally beneficial yet unrewarded.

Maintaining the continued flow of benefits from science, as well as societal support for science, requires sustained engagement between the research community and the general public. On the basis of data from an international survey of 1092 participants (634 established researchers and 458 students) in 55 countries and 315 research institutions, we found that institutional recognition of engagement activities is perceived to be undervalued relative to the societal benefit of those activities. Many researchers report that their institutions do not reward engagement activities despite institutions' mission statements promoting such engagement. Furthermore, institutions that actually measure engagement activities do so only to a limited extent. Most researchers are strongly motivated to engage with the public for selfless reasons, which suggests that incentives focused on monetary benefits or career progress may not align with researchers' values. If institutions encourage researchers' engagement activities in a more appropriate way - by moving beyond incentives - they might better achieve their institutional missions and bolster the crucial contributions of researchers to society.

Tubes for detection of cholinesterase inhibitors-Unique effects of Neusilin on the stability of butyrylcholinesterase-impregnated carriers.

Detection tubes are small devices for the colorimetric enzymatic detection of cholinesterase inhibitors such as sarin, soman, VX nerve agents and substances denoted as Novichok. These detectors contain carriers in the form of pellets with immobilized cholinesterase, substrate and detection reagent. Their advantages are portability, sensitivity and simplicity, enabling fast detection of such compounds from air and water in case of a terrorist attack or war. In general, maintaining the stability of an enzyme for a longer time is very problematic; therefore, its further enhancement is required for safety and financial reasons. In this study, the stability of our patented carriers in the form of pellets with immobilized butyrylcholinesterase containing an increasing amount of the unique sorbent Neusilin® US2 was evaluated. The samples containing Neusilin maintained the stability of the immobilized enzyme for a longer time even at higher temperature and humidity than the currently commercially used carrier without Neusilin, allowing improved detection of nerve agents.

The effect of amorphous and crystal sodium warfarin and its content uniformity on bioequivalence of tablets.

Warfarin is intensively discussed in terms of generic substitution due to particular cases of bleeding, which are attributable to fluctuations in API content or the substitution of crystalline (WSC) for amorphous (WSA) warfarin. The aim of this study was to assess to what extent the in vitro release was affected by the form of API depending on the composition and technology. Bioequivalent tablets containing 5 mg of WSA or WSC prepared by wet granulation or direct compression were used. Furthermore, tablets of the same composition with WSC or WSA prepared by direct compression were evaluated. Raman spectroscopy was used to confirm the presence of WSA or WSC. The dissolution was more influenced by the technology than by the form of API but even tablets with dissimilar profiles were bioequivalent. This is probably due to the precipitation of WSA and WSC in the stomach on a poorly soluble acidic form, which subsequently dissolves in the neutral environment of the small intestine. Recrystallization was demonstrated in the in vitro assay at a pH of 1.2 and 4.5 using Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. In summary, the content uniformity appears to be the main factor affecting the safety of the treatment.

Relativistic deflection of background starlight measures the mass of a nearby white dwarf star.

Gravitational deflection of starlight around the Sun during the 1919 total solar eclipse provided measurements that confirmed Einstein's general theory of relativity. We have used the Hubble Space Telescope to measure the analogous process of astrometric microlensing caused by a nearby star, the white dwarf Stein 2051 B. As Stein 2051 B passed closely in front of a background star, the background star's position was deflected. Measurement of this deflection at multiple epochs allowed us to determine the mass of Stein 2051 B-the sixth-nearest white dwarf to the Sun-as 0.675 ± 0.051 solar masses. This mass determination provides confirmation of the physics of degenerate matter and lends support to white dwarf evolutionary theory.

The detection of extra-terrestrial life and the consequences for science and society.

Astronomers are now able to detect planets orbiting stars other than the Sun where life may exist, and living generations could see the signatures of extra-terrestrial life being detected. Should it turn out that we are not alone in the Universe, it will fundamentally affect how humanity understands itself--and we need to be prepared for the consequences. A Discussion Meeting held at the Royal Society in London, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, on 25-26 January 2010, addressed not only the scientific but also the societal agenda, with presentations covering a large diversity of topics.

Studying planet populations with Einstein's blip.

Although Einstein originally judged that 'there is no great chance of observing this phenomenon', the 'most curious effect' of the bending of starlight by the gravity of intervening foreground stars--now commonly referred to as 'gravitational microlensing'--has become one of the successfully applied techniques to detect planets orbiting stars other than the Sun, while being quite unlike any other. With more than 400 extra-solar planets known altogether, the discovery of a true sibling of our home planet seems to have become simply a question of time. However, in order to properly understand the origin of Earth, carrying all its various life forms, models of planet formation and orbital evolution need to be brought into agreement with the statistics of the full variety of planets like Earth and unlike Earth. Given the complementarity of the currently applied planet detection techniques, a comprehensive picture will only arise from a combination of their respective findings. Gravitational microlensing favours a range of orbital separations that covers planets whose orbital periods are too long to allow detection by other indirect techniques, but which are still too close to their host star to be detected by means of their emitted or reflected light. Rather than being limited to the Solar neighbourhood, a unique opportunity is provided for inferring a census of planets orbiting stars belonging to two distinct populations within the Milky Way, with a sensitivity not only reaching down to Earth mass, but even below, with ground-based observations. The capabilities of gravitational microlensing extend even to obtaining evidence of a planet orbiting a star in another galaxy.