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New technology ‘game changing’ for pregnant women with diabetes

A new study published in the University of East Anglia shows that automated insulin delivery technology can help pregnant women with type 1 diabetes better manage their blood sugars. The technology, known as Hybrid Closed-Loop or Artificial Pancreas, helps to substantially reduce maternal blood sugars throughout pregnancy.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 24, 2023

AI and 10 seconds of voice can screen for diabetes, new study reveals

A new study by Klick Labs reveals that AI technology can screen for Type 2 diabetes using six to 10 seconds of a person's voice, with high accuracy rates. The research used acoustic features to analyze recordings from over 18,000 participants and identified significant vocal variations between individuals with and without the condition.

SourceKlick Applied Sciences·JournalMayo Clinic Proceedings·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 18, 2023

Socializing boosts mood more than screentime

A new study from the University of Georgia found that people generally enjoy conversation over smartphone use, with a significant emotional boost from talking to strangers. In contrast, sitting alone was found to be the least preferred task, even when participants were given a choice.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalThe Journal of Social Psychology·DateSep 12, 2023

Activating volunteer system increases bystander CPR, AED use and improves survival

A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that alerting volunteers can increase bystander CPR and AED use, leading to improved survival rates. The volunteer system increased rates of CPR and defibrillation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, giving victims a higher chance of receiving early care.

SourceAmerican College of Cardiology·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·TypeObservational study·DateJul 10, 2023

Screen time not harmful for academic skills of preschoolers

A recent study by Ohio State University found that low to moderate levels of screen time do not negatively impact preschoolers' language, literacy, and math skills. However, high levels of screen use at nighttime were linked to smaller gains in social skills, particularly for those who used more than two hours of media daily.

SourceOhio State University·JournalTranslational Issues in Psychological Science·TypeObservational study·DateJul 4, 2023

An app can transform smartphones into thermometers that accurately detect fevers

Researchers at the University of Washington created an app called FeverPhone that uses existing phone sensors and screens to estimate whether people have fevers. The app was tested on 37 patients in an emergency department and showed accuracy comparable to consumer thermometers, with potential for early intervention in viral outbreaks.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalProceedings of the ACM on Interactive Mobile Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies·DateJun 21, 2023

Using emoji to measure health

Researchers argue that emoji-based language systems can improve communication between patients and physicians, particularly for vulnerable populations such as those with stroke or vocal impairments. The use of emoji can condense surveys and questionnaires, increasing response rates and appealing to patients.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeSurvey·DateJun 13, 2023

Amid volumes of mobile location data, new framework reduces consumers’ privacy risk, preserves advertisers’ utility

A new framework developed by Carnegie Mellon University researchers significantly reduces consumers' privacy risk while preserving advertisers' utility in mobile location data analysis. The framework uses machine learning to quantify personalized privacy risks and performs personalized data obfuscation.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalInformation Systems Research·DateJun 5, 2023

Smartphone use goes up in city parks, but down in forests

A study of 700 participants found that time outdoors doesn't always reduce smartphone screentime. However, visits to nature reserves or forests saw significant declines in screentime compared to urban locations. Participants who visited wilder areas spent more time disconnected from their smartphones and regained attention.

SourceUniversity of Vermont·JournalEnvironment and Behavior·TypeObservational study·DateMay 15, 2023

Hey Siri, can you hear me? #ASA184

Researchers found that people produce louder and slower speech with less pitch variation when communicating with AI systems, while clearer speech improves comprehension. The study aims to improve AI's ability to understand human speech and investigate language changes as technology advances.

Video-based smoking cessation program helped HIV-positive smokers quit tobacco

A video-based smoking cessation program developed by a University of Massachusetts Amherst researcher has helped nearly 40% of HIV-positive smokers in Nepal quit tobacco. The program, which includes 11 video sessions and is accessible via smartphone app, was found to be highly effective in promoting abstinence among participants.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalAIDS and Behavior·TypeObservational study·DateMay 2, 2023

Quantum sensing in your pocket

Researchers from the ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science have demonstrated a new chip-scale approach using OLEDs to image magnetic fields, offering a potential solution for portable quantum sensing. This technique enables small, flexible, and mass-producible sensing without requiring input from a laser or cryogenic temperatures.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 25, 2023

Prototype taps into the sensing capabilities of any smartphone to screen for prediabetes

Researchers at the University of Washington developed GlucoScreen, a new system that leverages smartphone capacitive touch sensing to measure blood glucose levels. The system's accuracy is comparable to standard glucometer testing, making it potentially less costly and more accessible for widespread screening.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalProceedings of the ACM on Interactive Mobile Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies·DateMar 30, 2023

Researchers test smart surfaces to improve wireless communication and localization

Researchers at UBC Okanagan have developed transmission schemes that incorporate reconfigurable intelligent surfaces to serve as reflectors within existing wireless networks. These surfaces can bounce signals to cell phones, improving accuracy and reliability in location services and data speeds.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia Okanagan campus·JournalIEEE Communications Letters·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMar 2, 2023

UNDER EMBARGO: Mount Sinai doctors present new research at 43rd Annual Pregnancy Meeting

Researchers from Mount Sinai Health System presented studies on the association between obesity and adverse outcomes in forceps-assisted vaginal deliveries, as well as the utility of cervical length surveillance after cerclage placement for predicting preterm birth. Additionally, a new tool for managing postpartum hemorrhage was showca...

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology·DateFeb 10, 2023

New smartphone app designed by University of Toronto researchers shown to significantly improve memory recall

Researchers developed HippoCamera, a new smartphone app that significantly improves memory recall by boosting attention to daily events. Users record videos and audio descriptions of everyday experiences, which are then replayed to reinforce memory consolidation.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 16, 2023

Urgent need to address ‘regulatory void’ for online gambling across sub-Saharan Africa – new study

A new study found that limited information is available on the size of the gambling market, participation, harms, and prevention in Sub-Saharan Africa. The researchers argue that regulation is outdated and ill-equipped for a digital age, with many territories lacking explicit regulation for online gambling.

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalPublic Health·TypeContent analysis·DateJan 12, 2023