In recent reports, some dogs have been trained to literally sniff out individuals infected with COVID-19. Now, a tech company is using the power of artificial intelligence to do the same thing with an “artificial nose” handheld device.

In a recent test, BrainChip Inc. and NaNose Medical were able to successfully detect COVID-19 in exhaled breath in much the same way a breathalyzer detects alcohol.  Their COVID-19 testing results are reportedly fast and highly accurate.

BrainChip is a leading provider of ultra-low power high performance artificial intelligence technology. In a press release, the company wrote, “Using the NaNose Medical artificial nose, and Akida’s artificial brain, is a potential breakthrough in accurate, fast, inexpensive, widespread (COVID-19) testing with the potential to control outbreaks and reduce this disease’s death toll.”

This NaNose Medical technology is based on the artificial nose developed at the Technion Israel Institute of Technology, by Prof. Hossam Haick, and has the same sensitivity to minute quantities of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) as a dog’s nose.

While it’s use as an instant or rapid COVID-19 test are new, the device has been used in tests to identify diseases including Parkinson’s, cancers, kidney failure, and multiple sclerosis for several years.

For the recent trials testing COVID-19, NaNose Medical collected samples from 130 patients and used that data to train its Akida neuromorphic processor. The system has now learned to recognize patterns of VOC biomarkers associated with an COVID-19 infection within seconds with a high level of accuracy.

According to a study in China, this type of breath sensor data is more accurate than current COVID-19 tests using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Additionally, sensor testing like this reduces the risk to healthcare workers because the tests does not rely on saliva or mucus samples.

“Artificial intelligence in medicine and healthcare is an emerging field and one in which we are eager to contribute with our edge AI processing solution at the Edge, for the benefit of science and humanity,” said Louis DiNardo, BrainChip CEO.

Both Louis DiNardo, Brainchip CEO and Orit Marom Albeck, NaNose Medical CEO said: “Using the NaNose Medical artificial nose, and Akida’s artificial brain, is a potential breakthrough in accurate, fast, inexpensive, widespread testing with the potential to control outbreaks and reduce this disease’s death toll.”

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The new tech comes from Hologic, Inc. – an innovative medical tech company focused on improving women’s health through early detection and treatment of cancer.

Dubbed the Genius Digital Diagnostics System, it is a first-of-its-kind digital cytology platform. Using a new advanced AI algorithm to help analyze its digital imaging results, the system aids doctors in the identification of pre-cancerous lesions and cancer cells in women.

“Application of AI requires digital images that are of exceptional quality,” said Kevin Thornal, president, Diagnostic Solutions Division at Hologic.

“Our teams developed a breakthrough imaging technology that converts physical glass cytology slides into digital images with superior clarity. From this digitalization, advanced image analysis and improved standardization are now achievable.”

According to Hologic, the AI in the system is able to narrow down the field of thousands of cells in a Pap test slide to a handful of the most diagnostically relevant images.

This saves time for results analysis and will lead to earlier detection of anomalies. The end result is getting help to the patients sooner and with greater accuracy.

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Despite the COVID-19 shutdown and the shift to virtual schools and online education, annual school pictures are still an important part of recording child’s growth over the years for most parents.

So its no surprise that the leading company for school photos has teamed up with the leading online retailer of photography keepsakes. Lifetouch and Shutterfly have launched Picture Day Snaps @Home.

This innovative and simple solution provides parents with an easy way to get a 2020 school picture of their child, despite the pandemic. And its all done from the safety of home.

“Now more than ever, we recognize how important it is to find new ways to celebrate traditional milestones,” said Stephanie Schmid, Vice President of Marketing and Merchandising at Lifetouch.

“And Picture Day is a cherished tradition for children and families alike. That’s why we are committed to meeting families wherever they are this school year – from the living room to the kitchen table – to ensure everyone has access to a school picture.”

The process is simple. Parents download the Shutterfly mobile app and then take a picture of your child. Next, to stay consistent with other school pictures, the app allows parents to select from of a variety of Lifetouch backgrounds.

Then simply order a picture package like any other year. And at least this year you can make sure their hair is not messy before you take the picture… In areas where students have returned to face-to-face learning, Lifetouch is working closely with schools to schedule picture days using its own safety protocols, and CDC guidelines.

The post School Pictures Still Possible Despite Virtual Learning and COVID-19 appeared first on CitizenNewsWire.

While health officials and campaigners welcomed the new ban, it will undergo a 6-week consultation. This ban, which comes as an extension to the measures made in July, has shocked the advertisement industry.

Obesity is a dangerous disease. It is also one of the most significant health concerns the United Kingdom faces. The World Health Organization announced that about 2.8 million people die each year from being overweight. This number is about 3 times higher than it was in 1975.

The new restrictions come after seeing the effect COVID-19 had on overweight individuals – putting them at higher risk for complications than the average person.

The Department of Health & Social Care provided research which shows children are exposed to over 15 billion ads revolving around junk food a year. These ads affect how individuals shape their personal eating habits.

Children are easily influenced. The more they see a product, the more they want it. With them spending more time online, they see advertisements everywhere they click, influencing the way they think.

Restricting what is shown will hopefully reduce the influence these products have on their audience. Also, hopefully leading to healthier choices on when and what they eat.

The Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock expressed how determined he is to help make the community more aware of what is going on around them by addressing a current problem which will only become more prominent in the future.

During the pandemic, people who were overweight were proven to be more at risk than others. This policy aims to help improve children’s overall health. Lowering their risk for other serious diseases, and even death.

If implemented, the ban would impact digital marketing all over the web in the UK. The ban includes ads on Facebook, Google, Twitter and Instagram, as well as various other websites.

NOTE: All information was fact-checked by the UK Government’s Online Website https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-public-consultation-on-total-ban-of-online-advertising-for-unhealthy-foods & the World Health Organization Online Statistics.

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If you didn’t know it, pumpkin seeds are highly nutritious and with the right recipe, can taste great. Free online pumpkin seed recipes abound on the internet and are wide in variety.

The great thing about downloading a great recipe is that the seeds can be made to take on the taste of just about anything.

We have a simple and basic pumpkin seed recipe in this article below.

One of the major health benefits of pumpkin seeds is their effect on your LDL cholesterol. The LDL is also referred to as your “bad cholesterol”. This is the stuff that can clog your arteries over time.

Pumpkin seeds made from this or other recipes, creates a tasty snack that can help to lower your LDL cholesterol. In addition to the effect on cholesterol, other studies have shown that pumpkin seeds have a positive anti-inflammatory effect and for some people can help with depression.

A quick online search yielded this easy and basic pumpkin seed recipe. You can always tweak it a bit and add some of your favorite seasonings.

Easy Roasted / Baked Pumpkin Seed Recipe:

• Clean the seeds to remove the pulp from the pumpkin. Do so by washing in a colander or strainer.
• Spread the seeds on a baking sheet.
• While you really don’t need to add anything, many find that a little olive oil, and a pinch of salt bring out the flavor more. (Experiment with a few different batched with other spices like cinnamon, or even chili pepper for a spicy version.)
• Place the seeds in the oven at about 165º F.
• To help maintain the internal oils of the seeds, cook them for only about 15-20 minutes at this temperature.

Let them cool a bit, but they are really great while still warm. Throw some in snack bags to take to school or work in the days ahead.

If you keep them refrigerated, these pumpkin seed will last for about a month.

The post Pumpkin Seed Recipes: Simple Delicious and Nutritious appeared first on CitizenNewsWire.

Dexcom, for example, is a groundbreaking glucose monitor that continuously monitors glucose levels. The device also transmits the results to your smart devices – all without pricking your finger.

But now there is a variety of new and emerging tech on the horizon to help with your mental health as well.

Wearables for Health

We know that there are a number of wearables in the market, including the Apple Watch, which can monitor steps, heart rate, and now even blood oxygen levels. 

A company called Sensio Solutions has introduced a bracelet called Feel. This device, lined with monitors, senses emotion and checks emotional signals throughout the day. 

With an accompanying app, the Feel bracelet helps with mood tracking. The informational feedback is the educational component to the device. Additionally, users of Feel, can also talk to a therapist who acts as a coach by creating a behavior plan based on the data.

An individual can use the wristband as part of treatment if they are suffering from anxiety and/or depression.

Health Apps

Several apps help with stress by incorporating meditation and deep breathing. Calm and Headspace are two of the more popular apps in the market. Meditation can ease stress and even change the brain when done regularly. 

New apps on the horizon are delving deeper into the psyche. Mindstrong is such an app that is being tested by California’s Department of Behavioral Health. 

Mindstrong analyzes the way users interact with their phones. The app analyzes how the user scrolls through web pages and even how the user types in order to detect moods. Through machine learning, the platform helps uncover mental health patterns.

Another app, Woebot, uses a cute little robot to guide users through situations using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Woebot engages in uplifting conversations and can even be sympathetic.

Between COVID and other stressors such as maintaining a work-life balance, mental health issues are on the rise. As such, software developers are focused on creating technology that can help improve or manage your mental health.

While tech does not take the place of professional care, it certainly can complement traditional methods.

The post Tech Evolving to Improve Mental Health appeared first on CitizenNewsWire.

According to the company, “This marks the first time Impossible Beef Made from Plants has been available for home chefs outside of the United States.” This comes on the heels of 70X retail growth in the US in the last six months.

Impossible Foods is based in Silicon Valley, and has been on a rapid growth path since its founding in 2011. The company makes delicious, nutritious meat and dairy products from plants. According to the company, this also much smaller environmental footprint than meat from animals.

Patrick O. Brown, M.D., Ph.D., is the creative genius behind the creation of Impossible Beef. He is Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry at Stanford University and a former Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator.

For many who have tried it, the Impossible Beef (known as Impossible Burger in North America) rivals ground beef from cows for taste. The plant-based meat is kosher, halal and gluten-free certified.

Nutritional Information for Plant Based Meat

In addition to its nutritional benefits, it can be used as a substitute in all ground beef recipes. This includes everything from stews, chili and sauces to minces, meatballs, meat pies, etc.

Unlike many other plant-based diet foods, this one is packed with plenty of protein. 4 ounces of Impossible Beef contains 19 g of protein but has 0 mg of artery clogging cholesterol. A source of iron, it also has 14 g of total fat, 8 g of saturated fat and 240 calories.

In contrast, a conventional 4-ounce “80/20” patty from cows has 80 mg cholesterol, 23 g of total fat, 9 g of saturated fat and 290 calories.

Another benefit of the Impossible Beef is sustainability. Compared to raising cows for beef, creating this food source requires 96% less land and 87% less water. Additionally, creation produces 89% fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

Bill Gates and Google Ventures are among a number of investors who see value in the company and its future impact on the global food supply.

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According to the study only 0.003% of particles from a masked mannequin, equipped with an integrated aerosol generator to simulate breathing and coughing, actually made their way into another seat’s breathing zone. This is due in part to the advanced HEPA filtration used by major airlines like United Airlines.

The study indicates that, even when the plane is full, risk is limited. Continuing the use of masks helps to minimize exposure when someone coughs. According to a statement from United, “Due to the unique qualities of the air filtration system, this makes the cabin of a plane one of the safest indoor environments in the world!”

“This most comprehensive study of its kind, revealed that fast onboard air recirculation, downward designed air ventilation and efficient HEPA filters make the chances of COVID-exposure almost non-existent on our flights, regardless of where you are seated.”

How were the tests performed?

The more than 300 tests were performed over a six-month period. They are a collection of 38 flight hours and another 45 hours on the ground. During the tests, particles were released across the entire cabin by section which contained a total of 42 sensors spread across the seats.

Additional sensors were placed in high traffic areas like the airplane galleys and jetbridge used for boarding. The sensors were used to represent passengers seated near the mannequin aerosol generator.

As a result of the advanced filtration and pressured airflow, approximately 99.99% of particles were filtered out of the cabin within six minutes. In contrast, a similar study showed that, in a house, it takes 90 minutes home’s filtration to accomplish the same task.

During an interview on Good Morning America, United Airlines Chief Communications Officer and SVP Josh Earnest said, “If you are inclined to travel or are thinking about air travel, there is reason today based on this independent study, that you can feel confident and travel safely on an airplane.”

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The CNA is the representative association for a large number of front-line healthcare workers across the state of California.

On the ballot, Proposition 21 is a measure designed to give local government officials the power to levy rent control measures as they deem appropriate. Many see this measure as an important item especially in the current pandemic environment.

With so many struggling financially at this time, the measure is designed to let officials provide additional financial protections to families in dire straits.

The CNA represents the health professionals who deal with families in a health and financial crisis first-hand. As such, they feel that Prop 21 is a necessity.

According to a recent press release, “Registered nurses say state initiative would help keep families in their homes and help stave off thousands of evictions of at-risk Californians during global pandemic.”

Rent control currently exists in California thanks to the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act from 1995. However, the Act currently does not allow local governments any flexibility.

Proposition 21 is aimed at changing that issue.

“One of the most profound impacts on the public health is housing insecurity,” said Zenei Cortez, RN, president of National Nurses United. “Millions of Californians who are rent-burdened are forced to make painful choices between paying the rent or paying for prescription drugs and medical services.”

“They are one paycheck away from living on the streets, where the public health challenges are even more severe.”

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There are concerns that drug companies are being politically pressured to rush vaccines. Because of this political pressure, there is also concern that many people will not trust the vaccines.

Pfizer, however, was one not one of the many pharmaceutical companies that accepted government funding.

Spending billions of it own money on a vaccine, scientists at Pfizer are free from government pressure or meddling with their research and development of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Currently, Pfizer has 30,000 participants in its Phase 3 clinical trials of a vaccine for COVID-19.

Today, the company announced that it has asked the FDA for approval to add another 14,000 people to the clinical trial.

According to Pfizer, the expansion of the trial is aimed at targeting specific groups to improve the diversity of the trial.

The current 30,000 participants already include a diverse mix of ethnicity. However, the expansion is focused on adding more age groups and health diversity.

The current study did not include anyone under the age of 18. As such, the expansion group will add an age group from ages 16-18.

Also, in the expansion, will be individuals with chronic, stable HIV (human immunodeficiency viruses), Hepatitis C, or Hepatitis B infection.

On CBS ‘Meet the Press’ this morning, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla talked about the current trial and the expansion. Bourla said that he believes that a vaccine could be ready by the end of the year.

When asked, he said that it will ultimately be up to the FDA to approve the vaccine for the public.

However, Bourla said that he believes that their trials will be complete in time, and if approved, Pfizer will be ready and able to begin distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine.

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