International Conference on Sensing Technology

AI tool diagnoses diabetes, HIV and COVID from a blood sample ‘One-shot’ approach that uses machine learning to screen immune cells could help to detect conditions with overlapping symptoms. The AI analyses gene sequences linked to receptors on the surface of B cells (pictured) and T cells. Credit: Eye Of Science/Science Photo Library Researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that can diagnose a range of infections and health conditions in one sweep, by screening immune-cell gene sequences in blood samples. In a study of nearly 600 people, published in Science on 20 February 1 , the tool identified whether participants were healthy or had COVID-19, type 1 diabetes, HIV or the autoimmune disease lupus, as well as whether they had recently received a flu vaccine. Neuronostics: Accelerating the diagnosis of epilepsy with computer modelling “This is a one-shot sequencing approach that captures everything that your immune system has been exposed to,” says Sarah Teichm...

A New Approach to Efficient Optoelectronics, Inspired by the Human Eye Berkeley Lab-led project part of new DOE Microelectronics Science Research Centers that are focused on basic research to transform the efficiency of microelectronics A recipe for energy efficiency: an optical sensor that also processes data. The transparent dome represents interactions between photons (red and green) and the nanoscale elements on the substrate. Carbon nanotubes with quantum dots (small spheres) are shown connected to CMOS circuitry below. (Credit: François Léonard/Sandia National Laboratories) Key TakeawaysScientists are exploring a more energy efficient approach to optical sensors that is inspired by how the retina works. In the approach, some data processing is conducted in the sensor itself, before the data is sent to a computer or processed by edge computing devices. The research aligns with broader efforts at Berkeley Lab to increase the energy efficiency of microelectronics. Today’s optoelectr...

Việt Nam wants to master remote sensing satellite technology By 2030, Việt Nam has set a goal to master the technology for manufacturing remote sensing satellites, establishing satellite data reception and processing stations, satellite control stations and systems for capturing Earth's surface imagery using aerial devices. Việt Nam wants to master remote sensing satellite technology. VNA/VNS Photo Deputy director of the National Department of Remote Sensing (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) Lê Quốc Hưng talks about how this technology is a key tool for monitoring natural resources and the environment. Could you please explain the role of remote sensing technology in meeting the country’s development goals in the era of Industry 4.0? Currently, remote sensing data has become a vital source of information for various fields, including mapping, natural resource investigation and management, environmental monitoring and protection, disaster prevention, urban and regiona...

Towards cleaner energy: Breakthrough in anode electrode materials for proton conducting solid oxide fuel cells operating at medium temperature Researchers unveil a new perovskite-based anode material with mixed hole–proton conduction to achieve high efficiency at low and medium temperaturesPeer-Reviewed Publication Tokyo University of Science image: (Top) Schematic diagram of a PC-SOFC; (Bottom left) Arrhenius plot and activation energy of BCPY thin film on the anode side; and (Bottom right) Conductivity of BCPY thin films as a function of oxygen partial pressure.view more Credit: Tohru Higuchi from TUS Amidst the ongoing energy and climate crises, the stakes have never been higher. We are pressed for time to find better ways of producing clean energy to replace fossil fuels. Thus far, fuel cells appear to be one of the most promising research directions. These electrochemical devices can produce electricity directly from chemical reactions, which can be tailored to be environmentall...

Experiments provide evidence that interaction of light with a hydrocarbon molecule produces strained molecular rings A gas-phase X-ray scattering experiment captures cyclopentadiene rapidly transforming into the strained bicyclo[2.1.0]pentene. This structure change is triggered by a pump pulse (blue) and detected through X-ray scattering (yellow). Credit: Greg Stewart, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory When molecules interact with ultraviolet (UV) light, they can change shape quickly, producing strain—stress in a molecule's chemical structure due to an increase in the molecule's internal energy. These processes typically take just tens of picoseconds (one millionth of a millionth of a second). Advanced capabilities at X-ray free electron laser (XFEL) facilities now enable scientists to create images of these ultrafast structural changes. In work appearing in The Journal of Physical Chemistry A, researchers found structural evidence of a strained bicyclic molecule (a molecul...

The rise of environmental sensors in smart manufacturing One of the largest areas for sensors in manufacturing is energy efficiency. Environmental sensors enable precise energy management by monitoring energy-relevant parameters such as temperature, pressure and power usage in data-rich, real-time modes. Source: pkproject/Adobe Stock Environmental sensors are key enablers of real-time monitoring and decision-making in achieving desirable manufacturing outcomes. Environmental sensors empower factories to operate smarter, cleaner and to make better products at lower cost. The transformative role of environmental sensors in effective manufacturing is often subtle and intricate in its application and influences, but manufacturers neglect the consequences of environmental impact on processes and equipment at their peril. These sensors are used as tools in manufacturing to:Optimize energy use Ensure specification and standards compliance Enable precision and repeatability in processes Ris...

Making Prosthetic Eyes that Look Like the Real Thing Patients and practitioners marvel at the craftsmanship of Kellogg Eye Center ocularist. Two enormous bulletin boards take up much of the wall space in the tiny office and laboratory. Photos of children, some just a few months old, cover each panel. Many of these children were born with sightless eyes; others lost their vision to disease or injury. But you wouldn’t know it by looking at their smiling faces. Thanks to Greg Dootz, an ocularist at the University of Michigan’s Kellogg Eye Center, more than 3,000 patients have received prosthetic eyes that are every bit as beautiful—and complex—as the real thing. Each custom eye crafted by Dootz is a hand-painted, nearly exact polymer replica of the patient’s original organ. His work is startlingly realistic, not only in the color and intricacy of the iris but also the appearance of the white. He even uses red thread to suggest tiny blood vessels. A self-described perfectionist with ...

Advances in optical micronanofiber-enabled tactile sensors and soft actuators Characteristic properties and diverse functions and applications of recently developed tactile sensors and soft actuators. Credit: OES A perfect combination of fiber optics and micro/nanotechnology, optical micro/nanofiber (MNF) is a new type of micro/nano-waveguide structure developed in recent years. Compared with standard fiber, MNF has a smaller diameter and larger core cladding refractive index contrast, so it offers unique optical properties, including low transmission loss, strong light-field constraint, large evanescent field, small bending radius, small mass, and compatibility with standard fiber. MNF-enabled flexible optoelectronic devices with high sensitivity, small size, and low power consumption have been widely used in the fields of tactile sensors and soft actuators. To date, flexible MNF sensors, also known as "optical skin," have been used to monitor pressure, temperature, hardnes...

Japan seeks to calm market's nerves after stock price fluctuations A man stands next to an electronic stock quotation board inside a building in Tokyo, Japan August 2, 2024. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab TOKYO, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Japanese leaders rushed on Tuesday to assuage concerns about the sharp swings in the country's financial markets, with the prime minister urging calm and senior finance officials convening an emergency meeting to discuss the global stock market sell-off. The executives from Japan's Ministry of Finance, the Financial Services Agency and the Bank of Japan (BOJ) held the trilateral meeting on Tuesday afternoon, said Atsushi Mimura, the country's top currency diplomat, emphasising close coordination between the government and the central bank. Advertisement · Scroll to continue Report this ad "The government and the BOJ agreed that it is important to monitor developments in economic and financial market...

Pentagon Raises “Red Alert” Over N.Korean Solid-Fuel Nuclear ICBMs That Can Strike Anywhere In The U.S. North Korea may be moving toward serial production of its intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of reaching the United States, a top Pentagon official has warned. Air Force General Gregory Guillot, commander of US Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), told the Senate Armed Services Committee on February 13 that Kim Jong-un’s regime can likely deliver a nuclear payload to targets North America. He also warned that North Korea’s latest missile’s solid-propellant design means that they can launch an attack in much less time. Guillot pointed to North Korea’s October test launch of the Hwasong-19 ICBM, a solid-fuel missile that can be deployed and prepared for launch much faster than liquid-fueled variants. He warned that rhetoric from Pyongyang suggests Kim is eager to transition from research and development to full-scale production and deployment of strategic weapons.   A H...

NASA Telescopes Deliver Stellar Bouquet in Time for Valentine’s Day A bouquet of thousands of stars in bloom has arrived. This composite image contains the deepest X-ray image ever made of the spectacular star forming region called 30 Doradus. By combining X-ray data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory (blue and green) with optical data from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope (yellow) and radio data from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (orange), this stellar arrangement comes alive. Otherwise known as the Tarantula Nebula, 30 Dor is located about 160,000 light-years away in a small neighboring galaxy to the Milky Way known as the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). Because it one of the brightest and populated star-forming regions to Earth, 30 Dor is a frequent target for scientists trying to learn more about how stars are born. With enough fuel to have powered the manufacturing of stars for at least 25 million years, 30 Dor is the most powerful stellar nursery in the local gr...

Cloud-based computing: Routes toward secure storage and affordable computation Storing data in the cloud is now routine for people and companies alike, but cybersecurity risks still exist, particularly in handling user authentication and access control securely. Researchers are developing novel methods to store data securely and in a computationally affordable way, and to exploit it efficiently—by computing directly on encrypted data. Cloud computing, while indispensable for modern business operations, has also become a significant target for cyberattacks due to the large amount of sensitive data stored online. Currently, over 90% of organizations rely on cloud services for critical operations, and there are more than 3.6 billion active cloud users globally. This translates to 47% of the world's population utilizing cloud services, underscoring the widespread dependency on the cloud. Unfortunately, this reliance on cloud computing comes with heightened risks. Data breaches are esc...

Mass spectrometry & spectroscopy New report reveals key trends in chemical structure elucidation and verification A new report on Structure Elucidation & Verification has been released, offering insights into shifting trends and strategies from leading R&D organisations. Compiled from the expertise of hundreds of researchers at ACD/Labs’ annual virtual symposium held in late 2024, the report outlines developments since 2022 and highlights how organisations are positioning themselves for success in 2025 and beyond. Presentations from organisations such as Novartis, AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), Medtronic, Sanofi, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Corteva Agriscience, Sutro Biopharma, and Shimadzu explored challenges, goals, and the role of advanced spectroscopic technologies in enhancing productivity and efficiency. With analytical teams facing increased demands without proportional growth in capacity or staffing, the report underscores a rise in sample h...