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Revolutionizing the world of smell and olfaction: Highlights from the 8th Digital Olfaction Society World Congress 2024

The 8th Digital Olfaction Society World Congress highlights groundbreaking advancements in digital olfaction, from smart necklaces to drones equipped with olfactory sensors. The event showcases innovative applications of scent digitization technologies, including virtual reality systems and e-nose devices for early disease detection.

NIH announces prize winners in year-long challenge to develop fetal diagnostic and monitoring technologies

The National Institutes of Health has announced the winners of a $2 million prize competition to develop innovative medical technologies for fetal health diagnosis, detection, and monitoring. Two top winners have developed devices that can detect fetal stress and congenital heart disease, while another technology aims to monitor fetal ...

“Wearable” devices for cells

MIT researchers have developed battery-free wearable devices that can snugly wrap around neurons, allowing for precise control over electrical and metabolic activity. The devices, made of a soft polymer, can be wirelessly actuated with light to measure or modulate a neuron's activity at a subcellular level.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalCommunications Chemistry·DateOct 31, 2024

A KAIST team develops face-conforming LED mask showing 340% improved efficacy in deep skin elasticity​

A KAIST team created a face-conforming LED mask with improved efficacy in skin rejuvenation. The FSLED mask demonstrated a 340% improvement in deep skin elasticity compared to conventional masks, showing significant benefits for anti-aging treatment.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 29, 2024

Illinois researchers receive two NIH grants to study infant development with innovative methods

Researchers at the University of Illinois are using a wearable device called LittleBeats to collect data on infant behavior in real-world settings. The first grant focuses on infant-parent interactions and emotional regulation, while the second grant explores infant sleep/wake patterns and health outcomes.

KAIST develops thread-like, flexible thermoelectric materials applicable in extreme environments​

Researchers at KAIST have developed a thermoelectric material that can generate electricity from body temperature and maintain stable performance even in extreme environments. The material, made of bismuth telluride fibers, has higher bending strength and showed no change in electrical properties after repeated bending tests.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeMeta-analysis·DateOct 23, 2024

NIH announces winners of prize competition to improve postpartum maternal health and health equity through innovative diagnostics

The National Institutes of Health has announced the winners of the RADx Tech for Maternal Health Challenge, an $8 million prize competition to develop innovative diagnostics for postpartum maternal health. Six finalists won grand prizes of $525,000 each, and two runner-up teams won prizes of $300,000 each.

Improving eye tracking to assess brain disorders

A University of Houston team developed non-invasive, comfortable, and safe wearable sensors to monitor eyeball movements, providing early warning signs of brain-related disorders. The new sensors have potential applications in diagnosing conditions like ADHD, autism, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and traumatic brain injuries.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalAdvanced Healthcare Materials·DateSep 16, 2024

Can technology turn exercise pain into pleasure?

Researchers at the University of Bath have developed sensors that track physical changes experienced by exercisers while using VR headsets, allowing game designers to create immersive programs that adapt to a person's abilities and mood. This technology aims to increase user engagement and adherence to exercise.

SourceUniversity of Bath·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 3, 2024

HSE scientists propose using heart rate analysis to diagnose anxiety and depression

A study by HSE University scientists found that changes in heart rate can serve as an early biomarker for anxiety and depressive disorders. The research used PPG technology to analyze heart function during cognitive tasks, revealing more pronounced changes in individuals with higher levels of anxiety or depression.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalFrontiers in Psychiatry·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 3, 2024

Can wearable activity trackers detect disease?

A recent systematic review and meta-analysis of 28 studies with 1.2 million participants found that wearable technology can accurately detect conditions such as heart rate variability, blood pressure, oxygen levels, sleep quality, skin temperature, hydration, and stress levels. The study suggests that wearable activity trackers could r...

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalJMIR mhealth and uhealth·TypeMeta-analysis·DateSep 2, 2024

NUS and A*STAR researchers develop wearable, stretchable sensor for quick, continuous, and non-invasive detection of solid-state skin biomarkers

Scientists created a wearable sensor that can monitor cholesterol and lactate levels on dry skin, enabling early disease detection. The sensor overcomes existing challenges of traditional methods, promising new opportunities for remote patient monitoring and population-wide health screening.

SourceNational University of Singapore·JournalNature Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 19, 2024

UC San Diego researchers use non-invasive technique to record involuntary nervous system

UC San Diego researchers have developed a wearable, non-invasive device that can record activity in human cervical nerves, providing early warning signs for conditions like sepsis and PTSD. The device uses magnetoneurography to detect changes in nerve activity, offering an early diagnostic marker of pathogen infection or inflammation.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalCommunications Biology·DateJul 29, 2024

NUS researchers develop a novel technique to fabricate three-dimensional circuits for advanced electronics

The NUS researchers developed a state-of-the-art technique called CHARM3D to fabricate three-dimensional electronic circuits with high electrical conductivity, self-healing capabilities, and recyclability. This new technique enables the printing of free-standing metallic structures without support materials or external pressure.

SourceNational University of Singapore·JournalNature Electronics·DateJul 29, 2024

Physical activity improves early with customized text messages in patients with heart problems

Researchers found that personalized text messages effectively increased physical activity among patients after significant heart events, with Apple Watch users showing a 10% increase in step count. However, the benefits later tapered off as patients became accustomed to the messages.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalCirculation Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 24, 2024

Foam fluidics showcase Rice lab’s creative approach to circuit design

Engineers have shown that air flow through open-cell foam can be used to perform digital computation, analog sensing, and combined digital-analog control in soft textile-based wearable systems. The researchers designed foam-based fluidic resistors to create two-dimensional pneumatic logic circuits embedded in textile-based devices.

SourceRice University·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 24, 2024

Wearable devices can increase health anxiety. Could they adversely affect health?

A new study by UNC School of Medicine researchers found that wearable devices can significantly amplify anxiety and increase healthcare use in patients with atrial fibrillation. Patients with Afib who use wearables are more likely to be preoccupied with their heart symptoms and report concerns about their treatment.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina Health Care·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 24, 2024

Mental health apps may help those waiting for care, study finds

A new study published in JAMA Network Open found that mental health apps can significantly reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and suicidality in individuals waiting for their initial psychiatric appointment. The study, which involved over 2,000 patients, showed improvement in all groups, regardless of the app used.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 18, 2024

Off-the-shelf wearable trackers provide clinically-useful information for patients with heart disease

A study published in Nature Medicine found that off-the-shelf wearable trackers can monitor the response to two treatments for atrial fibrillation and heart failure. The devices provided clinically useful information similar to in-person hospital assessments, with a neural network helping to analyze missing data.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalNature Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 15, 2024

Portable engine powers artificial muscles in assistive devices

Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a lightweight fluidic engine that can power muscle-mimicking soft robots for use in assistive devices. The new engine generates significant force and is untethered to an external power source, making it particularly attractive for improving people's ability to move their upp...

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalAdvanced Intelligent Systems·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 1, 2024

From wearables to swallowables: USC Engineering researchers create GPS-like smart pills with AI

Researchers from USC Viterbi School of Engineering have developed ingestible sensors that track gastrointestinal health in real-time. These 'smart pills' use AI and wearable technology to detect gases associated with gastritis and gastric cancers, offering a significant step forward in ingestible technology.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalCell Reports Physical Science·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 12, 2024

An AI-powered wearable system tracks the 3D movement of smart pills in the gut

Scientists developed an AI-powered system to track tiny devices that monitor markers of disease in the gut. The system includes a wearable coil and ingestible pill with optical gas-sensing membranes, pinpointing device location and measuring gases like ammonia. Future improvements aim to make the device smaller and more power-efficient.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Reports Physical Science·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 12, 2024