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What you can't see can hurt you

Researchers from the University of Utah discovered that homeowners change their behavior when they can visualize air quality in their homes. By using portable air quality monitors and a smartphone app, participants were able to see real-time data on PM2.5 levels and adjust their daily habits accordingly. This study has the potential to...

Google glass meets organs-on-chips

Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital developed a wearable device to monitor and control organs-on-chips, a platform for testing drug compounds. The system uses Google Glass for hands-free control and monitoring, enabling high-accuracy predictions of physiological responses.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalScientific Reports·DateMar 18, 2016

The science behind the cape

Physiologist E. Paul Zehr uses Batman as a framework to discuss exercise and physical training, illustrating how the body responds to physical discipline. His approach connects science to popular culture, helping students understand physiology better.

SourceAmerican Physiological Society·JournalAJP Advances in Physiology Education·DateMar 8, 2011

WikiPathways gives the people the power to curate

The new resource allows users to view, store, and edit biological pathway information, leveraging collective expertise to facilitate content collection and curation. WikiPathways provides a wealth of annotated information, maximizing the value of biological data and supporting future hypotheses and discoveries.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateJul 21, 2008

JRRD releases volume 44, issue 3

This issue of JRRD features several studies exploring advancements in ambulation and motor control for individuals with spinal cord injury. Researchers found that functional electric stimulation systems can significantly improve walking distance and speed, while a new measure for assessing spasticity impact was also developed.

SourceJournal of Rehabilitation Research·JournalThe Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development·DateAug 1, 2007

Molecule helps pupils respond to light

Researchers have discovered that the molecule melanopsin is necessary for the pupil to constrict properly in response to light. Melanopsin is part of a distinct light-sensing pathway that complements the primary visual pathway, and its loss affects the pupillary light reflex, which regulates sleep-wake cycles and hormone secretion.

SourceHoward Hughes Medical Institute·JournalScience·DateJan 9, 2003

Boston, U-C Davis receive leadership-level awards

Boston University has received a $14 million Leadership Award to enhance its standing in biomedical engineering, while UC Davis has received a $12 million Leadership-Development Award for its visionary plan. Both institutions will use their awards to link genomics with organ-level physiology and improve medical applications.

Revealing the complex patterns of cardiac disease

Scientists from Boston University's Center for Polymer Studies use modern physics to analyze heartbeats, finding complex multifractal properties in healthy hearts. This discovery could help doctors diagnose cardiac disease more effectively, potentially avoiding the harm caused by medication aimed at eliminating variability.

SourceBoston University·JournalNature·DateJun 2, 1999

Penn Researchers Develop ‘Smart' Intensive Care Unit System Using Advanced Computer Intelligence

Researchers at Penn have developed a smart ICU system that improves vital-sign monitoring of critically-ill patients using artificial computer intelligence. The system utilizes neural networks and fuzzy logic to analyze patient data, enabling clinicians to identify dangerous deviations from ideal vital signs.

Purdue Study Aims To Boost MRI Capabilities

A new test apparatus developed by Purdue researchers allows for faster, more precise MRI scans without causing discomfort to patients. The system enables doctors to gather images from previously hard-to-scanned areas like the liver and view transient phenomena like cardiac activity in a noninvasive way.