All posts tagged: improves

How Valve’s 2026 Linux Update Improves 8GB VRAM Gaming

How Valve’s 2026 Linux Update Improves 8GB VRAM Gaming

Published by skeptic

Valve has made significant strides in resolving the longstanding performance issues tied to the Steam Machine, particularly for systems constrained by limited VRAM. As highlighted by Deck Ready, the company’s latest update focuses on optimizing VRAM allocation, a critical step in reducing stuttering and improving frame pacing. By introducing kernel-level changes to the Linux operating system, Valve has successfully minimized reliance on slower system RAM, which had previously caused bottlenecks in graphically demanding games. This approach not only enhances the Steam Machine’s performance but also benefits other Linux-based systems with similar hardware limitations, offering a smoother and more consistent gaming experience. Explore how these advancements extend beyond the Steam Machine to impact devices like the Steam Deck, where Valve has collaborated with developers to optimize games such as Pragmata and Replaced. Gain insight into the practical outcomes of these updates, from stable frame rates to scalable graphics settings tailored for handheld gaming. Additionally, the feature examines speculation surrounding the potential return of the Steam Controller, a device known for its trackpads and gyro controls, and …

Sentiment improves among Japan’s big firms, but Iran war clouds outlook

Sentiment improves among Japan’s big firms, but Iran war clouds outlook

Published by Sam Flores

TOKYO, April 1 : Business sentiment among large Japanese manufacturers improved in the three months to March, according to a closely watched survey released on Wednesday, a sign that increasing economic uncertainty from the Middle East conflict has yet to hit morale. But firms expect conditions to worsen in the next three months, the survey showed, as soaring fuel costs and supply disruptions from the Iran war cloud the global outlook and threaten to squeeze margins. The headline index measuring big manufacturers’ business confidence stood at +17 in March, the BOJ’s “tankan” survey showed, up from +16 in December. That compared with a median market forecast for a reading of +16. An index gauging sentiment among large non-manufacturers stood at +36 in March, unchanged from December. It compared with a median market forecast for +33. The survey was conducted between February 26 and March 31. Markets have been rattled since the Iran war effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for about a fifth of global oil and gas flows, driving up crude oil …

Asking complex questions improves creative project scores but hurts multiple-choice exam grades

Asking complex questions improves creative project scores but hurts multiple-choice exam grades

Published by José Betancourt

A recent study published in npj Science of Learning suggests that as students acquire knowledge, their ability to ask complex, subject-specific questions improves, which boosts their performance on creative open-ended projects. However, this same high-level questioning ability tends to negatively impact their scores on standard multiple-choice exams. The findings provide evidence that while deep inquiry aids creative learning, it might conflict with traditional testing methods that require a single correct answer. Asking questions is a basic human cognitive tool used to identify and fill gaps in our understanding. It helps us reduce uncertainty about the world around us. The researchers conducted the study to understand how acquiring knowledge over time changes the way people form these questions. While asking questions is a fundamental part of learning, little was known about how the originality and complexity of these questions evolve in a real-world classroom setting. Tuval Raz and Yoed N. Kenett, scientists at the Technion Israel Institute of Technology, designed the research to explore this progression. They also wanted to see whether a student’s natural ability …

When AI ‘enhances’ or ‘improves’ an image – The Observers

When AI ‘enhances’ or ‘improves’ an image – The Observers

Published by Sam Flores

Using AI to “enhance” or “upscale” an image can make it look sharper. But it can also be dangerous. Several pieces of misinformation have recently circulated using these kinds of images. In the US city of Minneapolis in January, a woman named Renée Good was shot and killed by an agent from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement force (ICE). Videos filmed at the scene show the agent wearing a facemask. But online users asked Grok, Elon Musk’s AI chatbot, to “unmask” the ICE agent. Grok generated clear, detailed images showing the man’s full face. But there was a problem: Grok had, of course, invented the faces. Grok even gave the man a name that was shared across social media. The result? Men with the same name or looking like the photo were falsely accused of shooting Renée Good. AI tools turn a telephone into a gun Another image from Minneapolis shows Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse who was killed by agents from the US Border Patrol. Federal officials said he was holding a gun. Online …

Luck Improves For 3 Zodiac Signs On March 20, 2026

Luck Improves For 3 Zodiac Signs On March 20, 2026

Published by Jenni Sidey

On March 20, 2026, luck improves for three zodiac signs. Mercury turns direct on Friday, and there is a very noticeable and positive change in the way we and others express ourselves. There’s the idea that everyone is going through a personal battle that is private and no one else knows about. That’s true, and on this day, we respect this in others. This causes good luck to manifest in our lives. We provide goodness and understanding, and the universe rewards this kindness with good luck. 1. Aries Design: YourTango On Friday, Mercury turns direct, and it becomes very obvious to you that the big obstacle in your life is now out of the way. Finally! That means you can move freely from now on, Aries. This was a long time coming. The timing couldn’t be more perfect, either. You’ve been working very hard to find a way out of what felt like a tight spot. With Mercury no longer retrograde, you see that it takes care of itself. No biggie! Now, you can let …

Specialist palliative care saves NHS thousands and improves lives

Specialist palliative care saves NHS thousands and improves lives

Published by skeptic

Specialist palliative care has the potential to reduce costs by up to £8,000 per person and improve quality of life, according to new research published in Palliative Medicine. Led by researchers at King’s College London, the research considered two modes of palliative care for those living at home and for those in acute hospital settings. As well as significantly reducing the overall cost of care per person, specialist palliative care delivered at home and in the hospital was associated with improved quality of life for patients in their final months. Peter May, Senior Lecturer in Health Economics at King’s College London and lead author of the study, stated: “This is the first study to estimate the economic impact for England. “About half of the people who might benefit from specialist palliative care receive it, and this is highly cost-effective for both patients and the NHS.” Unplanned hospital admissions lead to higher costs In high-income countries, about 1% of people die annually, but this group accounts for 8-10% of all healthcare spending. This high cost is …

AI improves cancer detection in major UK breast screening study

AI improves cancer detection in major UK breast screening study

Published by skeptic

A large UK evaluation finds artificial intelligence (AI) could boost breast cancer detection rates while easing pressure on screening services. AI could significantly improve cancer detection in routine breast screening while reducing pressure on overstretched radiology services, according to a large UK study published today in Nature Cancer. Researchers analysing the use of an AI-assisted system within the National Health Service (NHS) found that integrating the technology into the screening process increased breast cancer detection by more than 10% and reduced clinical workload by over 30%. The findings add new evidence to ongoing discussions about the role of AI in national cancer screening programmes. The evaluation involved more than 10,000 mammograms and examined how AI could support radiologists in identifying potential cancers during routine breast imaging. Large-scale evaluation of AI in NHS breast cancer screening The research was carried out by scientists and clinicians from the University of Aberdeen, NHS Grampian and health technology company Kheiron Medical Technologies, now part of DeepHealth Inc. The work formed part of the GEMINI project, which investigated how AI …

A single dose of cocoa flavanols improves cognitive performance during aerobic exercise

A single dose of cocoa flavanols improves cognitive performance during aerobic exercise

Published by José Betancourt

Consuming a single dose of cocoa rich in specific plant compounds can improve a person’s reaction time and decision-making skills during physically and mentally exhausting exercise. These cognitive benefits occur even though the individual still feels just as mentally drained, suggesting a subconscious boost to brain performance. The findings were published in the journal Psychopharmacology. Hayato Tsukamoto, a researcher at the Faculty of Sport Sciences at Waseda University in Japan, led the investigation. His team wanted to understand how mental exhaustion affects physical performance and whether nutritional supplements could offer a protective effect. They focused their attention on a mental process known as executive function. Executive function is a cognitive system that helps people manage their thoughts, direct their attention, and control their impulses. During sports like soccer or basketball, athletes constantly rely on this system to make rapid choices and block out distractions. Maintaining this mental sharpness is essential for high-level athletic performance. When people use their executive function for an extended period, they experience a state of cognitive fatigue. This mental drain slows …

Anti-obesity drug improves metabolism beyond weight loss, study finds

Anti-obesity drug improves metabolism beyond weight loss, study finds

Published by Jenni Sidey

The skin over a mouse’s shoulders warmed up after a dozen days on tirzepatide. That heat map, taken with an infrared camera, pointed to a familiar patch of tissue between the shoulder blades: brown fat, the body’s calorie-burning depot. In a new mouse study, tirzepatide did what many people already associate it with. It drove weight down mainly by cutting appetite. But the work also suggests something else is happening at the tissue level. Even when the researchers matched food intake between groups, tirzepatide pushed brown fat toward a more active, energy-burning state. There were improvements in blood sugar control that food restriction alone did not fully explain. The research team. From left to right, Albert Mestres, Tania Quesada, Albert Blasco, Marta Giralt, Francesc Villarroya, Anna Planavila and Marion Peyrou. (CREDIT: University of Barcelona) A drug built to hit two targets Tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro, is approved for weight control in adults with obesity or overweight with comorbidities, and for treatment of poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus. Unlike earlier obesity drugs that focus on …

Luck Improves For 3 Zodiac Signs On February 20, 2026

Luck Improves For 3 Zodiac Signs On February 20, 2026

Published by Jenni Sidey

On February 20, 2026, luck officially improves for three zodiac signs. During the Waxing Crescent Moon in Aries on Friday, we’re moving up and gaining momentum.  This lunar transit is all about us believing in what we are here for. We are gathering our strength and staying focused. Right now, we feel as if we have a genuine purpose. The Moon is waxing, which symbolically means it is gaining strength, imparting in us the desire to do good.  For these astrological signs, this is a call to act on our creative drives. Our luck improves as we steadily gain ground. 1. Leo Design: YourTango This day lets you experience a serious boost in confidence as many things seem to open up for you. What you want, you get on this day. During the Waxing Crescent Moon in Aries, you realize you are pretty lucky, and you like it. On February 20, opportunities knock, and you get to pick and choose from the best of them. While not everything is perfect for you, that is to …