http://www.technologyreview.com/news/511916/brain-boosting-technique-might-help-some-functions-while-hurting-others/ Electrically stimulating the brain may improve memory, but impede with a person’s ability to react without thinking. The approach has previously been shown to enhance various brain functions, including working memory and attention, and is being used to help stroke patients regain lost language and motor skills (see “Repairing the Stroke-Damaged Brain”). But until […]
Diabetes
The Relationship of Sugar to Population-Level Diabetes Prevalence
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0057873 Increased sugar consumption leads to increased diabetes prevalence. One solution is to reduce sugar consumption, but this is difficult to implement in a western diet. It is best to combine the consumption of high fiber foods such as oatmeal, oat bran, beans and legumes with the consumption of high sugar foods.
Brain / Sensors
Computer modeling may help soldiers, athletes, avoid concussions
http://hub.jhu.edu/2013/03/07/concussion-research-impact Johns Hopkins engineers have developed a powerful new computer-based process that helps identify the dangerous conditions that lead to concussion-related brain injuries. Professor K.T. Ramesh led a team that used a technique called diffusion tensor imaging, together with a computer model of the head, to identify injured axons, which are tiny but important fibers that […]
Apps / Heart / mHealth / Sensors
Doctors use smartphones to save lives
http://appleinsider.com/articles/13/01/25/doctors-see-apples-iphone-as-life-saver-in-the-future-of-medicine A doctor recently used his iPhone, in combination with AliveCor, a mounted sensor capable of delivering clinically accurate electrocardiograms, while in flight, to measure the vital signs of a passenger experiencing severe chest pains at 30,000 feet. The results indicated that the passenger was having a heart attack. The doctor recommended an urgent landing, […]
AI
Kurzweil developing AI search technology
http://www.techradar.com/news/world-of-tech/future-tech/google-ray-kurzweil-developing-ambitious-intelligent-a-i-search-tech-1125324 Kurzweil hopes to leverage Google’s massive pool of resources and data to develop technology that would create truly intelligent computers that can understand human language on a deep level.
Heart / Sensors
NASA technology benefits cardio-pulmonary patients
http://www.azosensors.com/news.aspx?newsID=5350 PUMA measures six components to evaluate metabolic function: oxygen and carbon dioxide partial pressure, volume flow rate, heart rate, and gas pressure and temperature. From those measurements, PUMA can compute the oxygen uptake, carbon dioxide output and minute ventilation (average expired gas flow rate). A small, embedded computer takes readings of each sensor and relays […]