One in ten asthma cases can be avoided with a better urban environment
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 16-Sep-2025 02:11 ET (16-Sep-2025 06:11 GMT/UTC)
The combination of air pollution, dense urban development and limited green spaces increases the risk of asthma in both children and adults. This is shown by a new study conducted as part of a major EU collaboration led by researchers from Karolinska Institutet.
Assistant Professor Daiki Tajiri and Professor Shozo Kawamura of the Machine Dynamics Laboratory, Technology Department of Mechanical Engineering, Toyohashi University have developed a simple method that identifies the rigidity deterioration of a building’s columns based on only the frequency response of force measured using an inertial shaker installed on the top floor of the building. This method enables the diagnosis of abnormalities in the entire building without requiring acceleration sensors and other equipment on multiple floors, as in the case of conventional methods; in fact, it requires only force sensors. The research results are published in the international academic journal Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing.
A groundbreaking new study co-authored by Dr. L. Andrew Lyon, founding dean of Chapman University's Fowler School of Engineering, introduces an AI-powered smartphone app that noninvasively screens for anemia using a photo of a user’s fingernail. Published in PNAS, the study shows the app provides hemoglobin estimates comparable to traditional lab tests, with over 1.4 million tests conducted by 200,000+ users.
An estimated 83 million Americans and more than 2 billion people globally are at high risk for anemia—populations that stand to benefit significantly from this accessible screening tool. The app offers a low-cost, scalable solution that enhances access, especially in underserved and remote communities, while enabling real-time health monitoring and earlier intervention.
The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) — the nation’s oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization focused on aging — has named Stephen Ewell, MBA, MS, of the Consumer Technology Association Foundation as an at-large member of its Board of Directors.