Factor graphs and the sum product algorithm

Employees are opening up more in the workplace, and research suggests it’s making them more productive. New research by LinkedIn has found that nearly half of workers are more comfortable opening up to colleagues in the workplace , sharing emotions such as humour, frustration and sadness – and that 65% are feeling more productive as a result. While the most common emotion shared between colleagues is humour, workers are also able to be more vulnerable in the workplace, helping to alleviate stress and anxiety. In fact, more than half of people felt able to let their boss know when feeling overwhelmed and say that being more open with their feelings at work has made them feel less anxious. This has opened the door for more personal conversations, with nearly two thirds (63%) now feeling comfortable enough to talk about their family as well as bereavement (53%), burnout and stress (48%), and mental health (45%) – with two thirds saying they’ve cried in front of their … [Read more...] about Employees feel more productive when they can show their emotions at work, says research

FOR MORE THAN 350 years, men have been going to Georges Bank, 150 miles out on the continental shelf east of Cape Cod, to fish for cod, haddock, yellowtail flounder, scallops, lobsters. They have decimated stocks more than once, but the fisheries are still there. Back in the early seventies, when catches were unsustainably high, the harvest was, acre-foracre, the largest in the world. Now other men are heading out to Georges to hunt—through holes inches wide and miles deep-for oil and gas. There won't be many men at first, perhaps a few hundred aboard a handful of exploratory rigs. But that is enough to signal the fact that along the great submerged thumb stretching from Nantucket Shoals toward Nova Scotia, competition for resources has begun in earnest. The conflict involves two resources in one place, both of importance to the modern world. Oil from Georges would reduce our dependence on foreign supplies, if only slightly. Fish—a resource capable of providing half our minimum … [Read more...] about Oil, Fish, and Georges Bank

Your daily Wordle can start easily enough. On your first attempt you might get a couple of letters, they may even be green, signaling they are in the correct place and that you are on the right track. But wait, what's this? You are on your fourth or fifth attempt and you seem no closer to solving it. Racking your brains for every vowel and consonant combination you can muster, the five-letter holy grail suddenly seems unattainable. Blood pressure rises, and the prospect of failure looms. How will you explain this to your buddies? Don't worry, Newsweek is here to get you over the line with some handy hints. The unpredictable difficulty of each day's puzzle is part of its charm and is built into the design of the game created by engineer Josh Wardle. There is no calculated difficulty curve. Out of the estimated 2,500 words it draws on, the sequence is randomized so one day might be relatively easy while the next can leave you scratching your head. Designed during COVID … [Read more...] about Today’s ‘Wordle’ #418 hints, clues, and answer for Thursday, August 11

With the sun scorching and the kids on school holidays, it’s safe to say kids’ activities will be in full swing. But while they are enjoying themselves, they still need to protect their sensitive skin from harmful UV rays. A sun hat can only do so much and whether you are in the UK or abroad, even if it is cloudy or just a glimmer of sun, the NHS recommends still applying suncream, particularly between the hours of 11 am and 3 pm, and always using a factor 30 plus on children. Skincare expert, Dr Thuva Amuthan also says not to rely just on sunscreen as the only method of protecting your children’s skin. ‘Hats and sunglasses are a great help in blocking out the sun too and some light loose clothing works well for protecting them throughout the day. ‘Always look out for signs of heat exhaustion. If they are running about, and not drinking enough they may suffer from dehydration and other signs can include redness or peeling after being exposed to the sun. … [Read more...] about Best sunscreen for kids

In recent years, Instagram has rolled out a flurry of updates as it has sought to become an e-commerce powerhouse, messaging app, and, last summer, a short-form video discovery platform , along the lines of TikTok. Now this public identity crisis is bleeding into its user base. This week, Instagram head Adam Mosseri appeared in full damage control mode . Facing the camera and wearing a bright yellow sweater, he attempted to quash a growing revolt from some of Instagram's most prominent users. Less than 24 hours earlier, Kylie Jenner, Kim Kardashian and other high-profile influencers shared a black-and-white graphic declaring: "Make Instagram Instagram again. (Stop trying to be TikTok I just want to see cute photos of my friends.) Sincerely, everyone." READ MORE: Instagram boss addresses user complaints saying new changes are 'not yet good' What do people use ‘close friends’ for on social media? Social media giants agree to 'first of its kind' code of conduct in … [Read more...] about Instagram is annoying its user base, but does it care?

TikTok users have been widely sharing codewords to offer help to US citizens who are seeking an abortion. Ever since Roe vs. Wade was overturned in June , the social media platform has been flooded with supportive posts. Users have offered to host or take people "camping" or "kayaking" in another state where abortion is legal, instead of using specific phrases. The TikTok videos have also inspired a surge in support in European countries, including Italy and the United Kingdom. But abortion rights organisations have expressed concerns about the online movement and are urging users to promote official support networks. Activists are concerned that TikTok users do not have the training or resources to effectively help and are drawing attention away from established support networks, such as abortionfinder.org . "I think it is very well-meaning that people want to open up their homes, but it is better to go through these established organisations," said … [Read more...] about ‘Camping’: Codewords on TikTok offer help to US citizens seeking abortions

Jonathan Amos @BBCAmos on Twitter Published 20 July Share close Share page Copy link About sharing It's one of the "hottest" tickets in the UK's space start-up scene today. Satellite Vu is attracting a lot of interest with its plans to fly a network of spacecraft to map heat signatures across the planet. Such observations have long been made, but not at the resolution (3-4m) and frequency (several times a day) that the London firm is promising. This will allow Satellite Vu to map the temperature profiles of individual buildings, offices and factories. If you want to know where the most inefficient housing stock is in a city, where energy is being wasted, where you could best target insulation expenditure - the new thermal data-sets will tell you. The information could make a significant contribution in helping the country meet its net-zero commitments. … [Read more...] about Satellites will act as thermometers in the sky

Technology giant Google’s new devices are beginning to drop, with the Pixel 6a smartphone on its way and now their brand-new and improved wireless earbuds, The Pixel Buds Pro. As you can tell from the name they are the premium edition to the affordable Pixel A Series that was released last year, and these Pro buds are much improved on the original Pixel buds. They are available in four colours: Coral, Fog, Charcoal, and Lemongrass. I looked at Fog, which I think most normal people would just call white. The colour you choose will mainly affect your case as whichever you choose the buds are mostly black with the touchpad being the only flair of colour, they are also very neat and attractive with each bud displaying a small, debossed G on them. The Pixel buds Pro look great and even the case looks stylish ( Image: Google) The buds follow a pebble, chunky-shaped design, especially when compared to something like the AirPods, and while not as sleek they still look … [Read more...] about Google Pixel Buds Pro Review: Powerful noise cancelling, smart features and incredible sound that smashes expectations

FOR MORE THAN 350 years, men have been going to Georges Bank, 150 miles out on the continental shelf east of Cape Cod, to fish for cod, haddock, yellowtail flounder, scallops, lobsters. They have decimated stocks more than once, but the fisheries are still there. Back in the early seventies, when catches were unsustainably high, the harvest was, acre-for-acre, the largest in the world. Now other men are heading out to Georges to hunt—through holes inches wide and miles deep—for oil and gas. There won’t be many men at first, perhaps a few hundred aboard a handful of exploratory rigs. But that is enough to signal the fact that along the great submerged thumb stretching from Nantucket Shoals toward Nova Scotia, competition for resources has begun in earnest. The conflict involves two resources in one place, both of importance to the modern world. Oil from Georges would reduce our dependence on foreign supplies, if only slightly. Fish—a resource capable of providing half our minimum … [Read more...] about Resources: Oil, Fish, and Georges Bank

Published 13 July 2018 comments Comments Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Johnson & Johnson has been ordered to pay $4.7bn (£3.6bn) in damages to 22 women who alleged that its talc products caused them to develop ovarian cancer. A jury in the US state of Missouri initially awarded $550m in compensation and added $4.1bn in punitive damages. The verdict comes as the pharmaceutical giant battles some 9,000 legal cases involving its signature baby powder. J&J said it was "deeply disappointed" and plans to appeal. In the six-week trial, the women and their families said they developed ovarian cancer after using baby powder and other talc products for decades. Of the 22 women represented in this case, six have died from ovarian cancer. Their lawyers alleged the company knew its talc was contaminated with asbestos since the 1970s but failed … [Read more...] about Johnson & Johnson to pay $4.7bn damages in talc cancer case