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HORIZON Newsletter – November 2024

Sample mixtures and the ability to deconvolute SNP profiles present a challenge for investigations using FGG. These mixtures are common in forensics, however, database search algorithms utilized for FGG only accommodate single-source SNP profiles. To address this gap, NBFAC and Signature Science have collaborated to implement a workflow which enables... MORE
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PLANES: Plausibility Analysis of Epidemiological Signals

Abstract: Methods for reviewing epidemiological signals are necessary to building and maintaining data-driven public health capabilities. We have developed a novel approach for assessing the plausibility of infectious disease forecasts and surveillance data. The PLANES (PLausibility ANalysis of Epidemiological Signals) methodology is designed to be multi-dimensional and flexible, yielding an overall score based... MORE
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An Interview with Friends who Found Each Other Through Forensic Science

In October, we sat down with Natalie Collins, Belinda Reyes, and Samantha Guigliemi, analysts in our Forensic Laboratory in Austin, TX. These three share a close friendship that has flourished in their time a Signature Science. We wanted to get them together to chat, pick their brains, and learn about... MORE
Radiological caution symbols. Text reads "TEI REX Phase 2"

IARPA Awards Signature Science $3.8M for Phase 2 of TEI-REX Program

Signature Science will optimize the performance of its novel biodosimetry approach developed in Phase 1 AUSTIN, TEXAS – September 3, 2024 – The Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) has selected the team led by Signature Science to advance to Phase 2 of its Targeted Evaluation of Ionizing Radiation Exposure... MORE
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MixDeR: A SNP Mixture Deconvolution Workflow for Forensic Genetic Genealogy

Abstract: The generation of forensic DNA profiles consisting of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) is now being facilitated by wider adoption of next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods in casework laboratories. At the same time, and in part because of this advance, there is an intense focus on the generation of SNP profiles... MORE
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HORIZON Newsletter – August 2024

How are the words we use when delivering expert witness testimony understood by the average member of a jury? What impact might television shows depicting the criminal justice system and 24/7 access to news reporting have on the average jury member? And, how do we effectively communicate the science behind... MORE
Image of virus cells and a bar chart.

An Imputation-Based Approach for Augmenting Sparse Epidemiological Signals

Abstract: Near-term disease forecasting and scenario projection efforts rely on the availability of data to train and evaluate model performance. In most cases, more extensive epidemiological time series data can lead to better modeling results and improved public health insights. Here we describe a procedure to augment an epidemiological time... MORE
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Evaluation of FluSight influenza forecasting in the 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons with a new target...

Abstract: Accurate forecasts can enable more effective public health responses during seasonal influenza epidemics. For the 2021–22 and 2022–23 influenza seasons, 26 forecasting teams provided national and jurisdiction-specific probabilistic predictions of weekly confirmed influenza hospital admissions for one-to-four weeks ahead. Forecast skill is evaluated using the Weighted Interval Score (WIS),... MORE