Search Results (2,935)

Noninvasive blood glucose monitoring has long been a critical research focus in diabetes management. Among emerging technologies, photoacoustic sensing, combining the molecular specificity with deep penetration, has garnered significant attention. It offers rapid response and pain-free operation, making it a strong candidate for next-generation portable blood glucose monitoring devices. This review systematically traces the development and current state of photoacoustic glucose sensing, with a particular focus on the selection and optimization of core system components. It also summarizes common interference in glucose detection and outlines strategies for their mitigation, along with signal processing and signal-to-noise ratio enhancement techniques suitable for real-world applications. Addressing the growing demand for wearable continuous glucose monitors, this work analyzes the key challenges in system integration and outlines recent advances in enabling technologies. It proposes multi-technology integration approaches to bridge the gap between photoacoustic sensing and microsystem design, offering theoretical foundations and practical guidance for future research on wearable photoacoustic systems. Full article

Background: Laryngeal lesions represent a significant clinical challenge due to the complexity of the laryngeal structure, making manual diagnosis time-consuming and prone to subjective errors. Therefore, developing an accurate and lightweight automatic detection method is essential for improving the efficiency of laryngeal disease screening and diagnosis. Methods: This study proposes MSBA-YOLO, a lightweight laryngeal disease detection algorithm based on an improved YOLOv5s architecture. The method integrates FasterNet as the backbone network to reduce computational redundancy through partial convolutions and incorporates a Single-Head Self-Attention mechanism to capture long-range dependencies in complex lesion features. In addition, an MSBA-FIoU loss function is introduced to enhance the localization accuracy of multi-scale targets. Results: Experimental results show that MSBA-YOLO achieves a mean Average Precision (mAP) of 96.1% with a model size of only 6.4 MB, representing a 54.6% reduction in parameters compared with the baseline model. When deployed on the Jetson Orin Nano edge platform, the proposed method achieves real-time inference with a speed exceeding 50 FPS while maintaining low power consumption of 5.82 W. Conclusions: The results demonstrate that MSBA-YOLO effectively balances detection accuracy and computational efficiency, providing a robust and practical solution for portable and real-time clinical screening of laryngeal diseases on edge devices. Full article

Textile materials represent a versatile class of engineering substrates widely used in apparel, domestic products, and medical protective systems. Despite their extensive application, large-scale textile production has seen limited integration of fundamentally new functionalization strategies. In recent years, however, advances in materials science have enabled the development of textiles with tailored electrical, adaptive, and biological functionalities. This review summarizes recent progress in the functionalization of textile materials with a focus on approaches relevant to engineering and industrial implementation. Particular attention is given to conductive textiles designed for operation under extreme environmental conditions, including low-temperature climates. Methods for integrating electrically conductive elements into fibrous structures are discussed, highlighting their potential for sensing, thermal regulation, and energy-related applications such as powering portable electronic devices. Inkjet printing is presented as a scalable technique for high-resolution deposition of conductive patterns while preserving the mechanical integrity and aesthetic properties of textile substrates. In addition, adaptive and stimuli-responsive textile systems are reviewed, including materials capable of responding to thermal, optical, or chemical stimuli, with applications in camouflage, wearable systems, and multifunctional surfaces. The review further addresses the development of bioactive textiles, emphasizing antibacterial functionalization using organic and inorganic agents to mitigate the spread of pathogenic microorganisms. The relevance of such materials has been underscored by recent global viral outbreaks. Overall, this work aims to provide a materials science perspective on emerging textile functionalization strategies and to facilitate the transition of these technologies from laboratory-scale research to practical engineering applications. Full article

Wind-induced noise remains a critical engineering challenge for MEMS microphones in compact consumer electronics such as smartphones, where spatial constraints limit conventional noise control solutions. This study experimentally investigates the suppression of flow-induced wind noise by a straight tube serving as the front cavity of a microphone, using a precision measurement microphone for data acquisition. Controlled experiments were conducted in both a flow duct for parametric isolation and an anechoic chamber for real-world validation. Results demonstrate a strong diameter-dependent effect: for a 1 mm diameter, increasing tube length significantly reduces noise power spectral density and steepens high-frequency roll-off via enhanced internal viscous and thermal dissipation. This effect weakens for a 2 mm diameter and becomes negligible for a 3 mm diameter, where noise is dominated by external flow excitation at the tube inlet rather than internal propagation. Therefore, extending tube length is an effective noise control strategy only for small-diameter cavities. Furthermore, while increased wind speed and oblique incidence elevate PSD, a longer tube reduces this sensitivity. Because acoustic transmission loss—including potential effects like aperture diffraction and impedance mismatch—was not measured, any resulting improvement in the effective signal-to-noise ratio is strictly presented as a hypothesis requiring future electroacoustic validation. The consistent findings across both experimental environments provide clear design guidance: for compact MEMS microphone systems in portable devices, elongating the front cavity is a viable passive noise control method only when the cavity diameter is sufficiently small (<2 mm). This offers a practical, space-efficient alternative to traditional windscreen-based approaches in portable devices. Full article

Open-source and commercial fifth-generation (5G) deployments are difficult to compare because they are built for different goals and reported under different conditions, which slows down validation and technology transfer from research to practice. This study explores the deployment and evaluation of two 5G Standalone (SA) disaggregated Radio Access Network (RAN) systems, using open-source research RAN, commercial RAN, and Software-Defined Radio (SDR) hardware. The first testbed is a SDR-based prototype, containing a Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP) B210 device, using Software Radio System RAN (srsRAN) as the RAN. The commercial-based testbed contains a Benetel RAN550 Radio Unit (RU), connected via an optical fiber to a Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) server acting as the Distributed Unit (DU) and Centralized Unit (CU) using the Accelleran virtualized Baseband Unit (vBBU) platform. The Core Network (CN) is implemented using the open-source Open5GS in both testbeds. To evaluate the network’s functionality, throughput and latency are tracked using a Motorola Edge 50 Pro mobile terminal. The experimental results are analyzed and compared with representative performance metrics reported in the literature to place the measurements in a broader research context. This study further assesses trade-offs related to cost, portability, and scalability by comparing SDR-based research prototypes with commercial deployments. Full article

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is portable and radiation-free, but its clinical reliability is constrained by operator-dependent image acquisition and the limited scalability of expert quality assurance (QA) review. As handheld devices proliferate faster than mentorship capacity, trainees increasingly rely on heterogeneous free open access medical education (FOAMed) resources that rarely provide real-time psychomotor feedback. We conducted a structured narrative review (MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science; last searched on 23 February 2026), with searches performed by H.H. and independently checked by J.J.P. (both POCUS-trained clinicians). After screening, 31 studies were included. We synthesized evidence on artificial intelligence (AI) systems that support bedside image acquisition and automate QA. The primary synthesis centered on key prospective or comparative clinical evaluations of AI-guided acquisition across echocardiography, focused assessment with sonography in trauma, abdominal aortic aneurysm screening, and lung ultrasound, complemented by peer-reviewed studies of FOAMed appraisal tools and online resource quality. These evaluations suggest that real-time probe guidance, view recognition, anatomy labeling, and automated capture may enable novices, after brief training, to acquire diagnostically adequate images for narrowly defined tasks. Early reports of automated QA scoring and program-level triage for expert review suggest potential to reduce expert workload and shorten feedback cycles, but external validation, generalizability across devices and patient habitus, and patient-centered outcomes remain limited. Acquisition-focused AI may therefore serve as an upstream “digital mentor” to improve novice image acquisition. We propose a practical pathway that integrates curated FOAMed resources and simulation with AI-guided bedside acquisition and continuous QA governance for safe deployment. Full article

Building materials have become a predominant source of indoor radon in mid- to high-rise buildings, making in situ measurement of radon exhalation rates from building surfaces essential for identifying radon sources and assessing associated risks. Based on practical survey requirements—addressing sealing leakage at chamber edges and ensuring device portability—this study developed an improved in situ measurement method integrated with leakage compensation through theoretical analysis and experimental validation. The method employs an acrylic accumulation chamber and a portable passive radon detector, adopts a 24 h continuous measurement duration, and processes radon concentration data using an exponential fitting approach. Comparative experiments with the activated carbon method demonstrated good consistency between the two methods. Furthermore, small-scale in situ measurements were conducted in the Beijing area, covering diverse building materials (concrete, brick), surface treatments (cement plaster, coating, wallpaper), and structural components (walls, floors). The results, which varied widely from 0.13 ± 0.11 to 28.00 ± 4.87 Bq/m²·h, confirm the reliability and applicability of the method for in situ determination of radon exhalation rates from interior building surfaces. Full article

Bolted joints are extensively used in mechanical and civil engineering structures because of their low cost, standardized design, and ease of installation and maintenance. The preload in a bolted connection is critical for ensuring joint stability and service reliability; however, preload degradation commonly occurs under complex operating conditions, particularly in environments involving sustained or cyclic vibration. To tackle this problem, this study proposes a portable, force-controllable percussion system for bolt looseness detection. The system integrates a solenoid-driven automatic percussion device, acoustic signal acquisition, onboard data-processing, and real-time visualization of diagnostic results. By adjusting the driving current of the solenoid, the percussion force can be accurately controlled, ensuring stable and repeatable excitation. Benefiting from its compact structure and low cost, the proposed system is suitable for real-time, on-site inspection of bolt looseness. Furthermore, a novel audio-processing approach based on a Siamese Capsule Network is developed to identify bolt looseness conditions. Compared with existing percussion-based techniques, the proposed method exhibits improved classification performance, especially in recognizing bolt states that are unseen during training. Exploratory experimental results validate the effectiveness of the proposed system and demonstrate its strong potential for practical engineering applications. Full article

Brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) have great potential for consumer electronics, as they enable the decoding of brain activity to control external devices and assist human–computer interaction. However, current decoding methods for BCIs face several challenges, such as low accuracy, poor stability under electrode shift, and slow processing for real-time use. In this paper, we propose a hybrid decoding framework designed to address the challenges of current EEG decoding methods. Our method combines manifold learning with contrastive learning. The core of our method lies in a dual-manifold model that uses non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) and a contrastive manifold learning framework to extract clear and useful features from brain signals. To improve decoding stability, we introduce a joint training strategy that enhances feature learning. Furthermore, the system is optimized for real-time interaction, reducing the system latency to 100 ms. We collect EEG signals from 15 subjects performing motor execution tasks and 10 subjects performing motor imagery tasks to construct a motor EEG dataset. On this dataset, the proposed method achieves superior decoding performance, reaching F1-scores of 0.7382 for the motor imagery tasks and 0.8361 for the motor execution tasks. Furthermore, the method maintains robustness even with reduced electrode counts and altered spatial distributions, highlighting its potential as a decoding solution for reliable and portable BCI systems. Full article

Background: Voluntary activation testing quantifies the ability of the motor nervous system to produce maximal force. Laboratory assessment of ankle plantar flexor voluntary activation is common, but field testing in practical settings is limited by equipment portability. We aimed to compare plantar flexor voluntary activation and maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) using a portable device with a standardised laboratory method and evaluate the test–retest reliability of the portable protocol. Methods: We performed a pseudo-randomised, crossover design. Participants completed two protocols: (1) portable force plate testing and (2) a laboratory-based isokinetic dynamometer. Voluntary activation was assessed using twitch interpolation via tibial nerve stimulation. Differences between protocols were analysed using generalised estimating equations. Reliability was assessed with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), and coefficient of variation (CV). Results: Twenty healthy participants (8 females, 12 males; median age 28.5 years) were included. No difference between protocols was detected for voluntary activation (β = 0.6, p = 0.68). The portable protocol demonstrated good reliability (ICC = 0.85) and low measurement error (SEM = 2.56%, CV = 2.79%). Conclusions: We demonstrated that the portable protocol is a valid and reliable method for assessing plantar flexor voluntary activation. It is suitable for assessing within-subject changes over time and can reduce participant attendance burden for neurophysiological muscle testing. Full article

Flexible supercapacitors have attracted significant attention as promising power sources for portable and wearable electronic devices. However, achieving simultaneous high power density, energy density and long-term cyclic stability in a simple device configuration remains a critical challenge. Herein, we report an all-solid-state flexible planar supercapacitor based on hierarchically structured cellulose nanofiber-carbon nanotube@manganese dioxide (CNF-CNT@MnO₂) composite aerogels. The electrode architecture is rationally designed by first dispersing CNTs within a hydrophilic CNF scaffold to form a conductive three-dimensional network, followed by in situ oxidative polymerization of MnO₂ onto the CNF-CNT fibrous skeleton. The hydrophilic CNFs network ensures thorough electrolyte penetration, the interconnected CNTs facilitate rapid electron transport, and the uniformly coated MnO₂ layer provides substantial pseudocapacitance. The aerogel electrode with a low density of 14.6 mg cm⁻³ and a high specific surface area of 214.4 m² g⁻¹ delivers a specific capacitance of 273.0 F g⁻¹ at 0.4 A g⁻¹. The assembled planar supercapacitor, incorporating gel electrolyte and a flexible hydrogel substrate, achieves an impressive areal capacitance of 885.0 mF cm⁻² at 2 mA cm⁻², energy density of 122.9 μWh cm⁻² and corresponding power density of 1000.0 μW cm⁻². The device exhibits excellent electrochemical stability, retaining 83.3% capacitance after 2500 charge–discharge cycles, and outstanding mechanical flexibility, with 96.3% capacitance retention after 200 repeated bending cycles. Furthermore, multiple devices can be connected in series or parallel to proportionally increase output voltage or current, meeting the practical power requirements of electronic applications. This work offers a viable pathway toward high-performance, durable energy storage solutions for next-generation wearable electronics. Full article

Electrophoretic Displays (EPDs) are widely adopted in e-readers and portable devices due to their ultra-low power consumption and eye-friendly reflective characteristics. However, inherent hardware limitations, such as low resolution, slow response speed, and display degradation, frequently result in blurred strokes and degraded text readability. While traditional driving waveform optimizations can mitigate these issues, they are device-dependent and require extensive manual calibration. To address these challenges, this paper proposes an Improved Whale Optimization Algorithm-based Multi-scale Fusion Attention-enhanced SwinIR (IWOA-MFA-SwinIR) model for super-resolution and recognition of text images on EPDs. Structurally, the model incorporates a multi-scale fused attention (MFA) module that synergistically integrates channel, spatial, and gated attention mechanisms to precisely capture high-frequency text details while suppressing background noise within the SwinIR architecture. Furthermore, to enhance model robustness and eliminate manual tuning, an Improved Whale Optimization Algorithm (IWOA) is employed to adaptively optimize critical hyperparameters, including embedding dimension (d), attention head count (h), learning rate ($lr$), and dimensionality reduction coefficient (r). Experiments conducted on the TextZoom and EPD datasets demonstrate that the proposed model achieves state-of-the-art performance. In the ablation study, it attains a Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) of 24.406, a Structural Similarity Index (SSIM) of 0.8837, and a Character Recognition Accuracy (CRA) of 89.81%. In the comparative evaluation, the proposed model consistently outperforms the second-best comparison model across three difficulty levels, yielding approximately a 1% improvement in PSNR, a 0.8% improvement in SSIM, and an 8% improvement in CRA. This confirms the proposed model’s superiority over mainstream comparative models in restoring text fidelity and improving recognition rates. Full article

NiO electrochromic films have significant potential for applications in smart windows, displays, energy-efficient buildings, and portable electronics, owing to their excellent electrochemical stability, favorable optical modulation performance, and environmental friendliness. However, several challenges remain, such as limited long-term durability, stability under extreme environmental conditions, and the cost-effectiveness of large-scale production. Future research efforts should focus on enhancing the cyclic stability and environmental adaptability of NiO films, developing low-cost fabrication techniques, and advancing multifunctional composite materials for smart devices. This review summarizes recent advances in the preparation and performance optimization of NiO electrochromic films. Several key fabrication methods—including magnetron sputtering, hydrothermal synthesis, electrodeposition, chemical bath deposition, sol–gel processing, and spray pyrolysis—are highlighted, and their effects on film structure, thickness uniformity, and optical properties are analyzed. Furthermore, the critical role of different electrolytes (inorganic, organic, and gel-based) in the electrochromic process is discussed, with a comparative evaluation of their influence on the electrochromic performance of NiO films. This article offers a comprehensive overview of the progress in high-performance NiO electrochromic films and provides theoretical insights and technical support for their broader application in renewable energy and smart home technologies. Full article

Infertility treatment often requires patients to self-administer hormonal injections, creating significant physical, logistical, and psychological burdens. While medical technologies have improved pharmacological efficacy and safety, design aspects addressing usability, portability, and emotional distress remain underexplored. This study presents Blloom, a compact self-injection device that integrates ergonomic, thermal, and emotional considerations designed through an interdisciplinary design-thinking framework. This study identified critical user needs related to self-injection anxiety, medication refrigeration, and treatment-related stigma through in-depth, multi-method qualitative design research. The resulting prototype is characterized by one-handed operation, concealed needle delivery, and built-in passive cooling (2–8 °C for up to 8 h). Formative evaluations with patients and clinicians confirmed its improved usability, emotional comfort, and contextual compatibility. At this prototypical stage, medication- and container-specific compatibility, as well as long-term reliability, require further bench testing and clinical validation. Process analysis further revealed how designer–engineer collaboration evolved from empathic exploration to implementation-driven convergence. The findings demonstrate how human-centered design can mitigate the multidimensional burdens of infertility treatment and provide a replicable framework for interdisciplinary innovation in self-managed healthcare devices. Full article

Accurate measurement of soil CO₂ flux is essential for understanding terrestrial carbon dynamics and quantifying greenhouse gas emissions from soil. However, the complexity and high cost of traditional measurement equipment limit its wide adoption in agriculture and other terrestrial ecosystems, including grasslands and managed field environments. In this paper, we developed a low-cost, automated soil CO₂ flux chamber for soil CO₂ flux monitoring. The flux chamber utilizes a commercially available MH-Z19 NDIR CO₂ sensor (Winsen Electronics Technology Co., Ltd., Zhengzhou, China), integrated with a Raspberry Pi microcontroller (Raspberry Pi Ltd., Cambridge, UK; manufactured by Sony UK Technology Centre, Pencoed, Wales, UK) for automated data collection and remote monitoring. The collected data are wirelessly transmitted to a computer or mobile device for real-time display. The total material cost of the system is less than $162. Side-by-side field measurements with a commercial LI-COR 8200-01S chamber (LI-COR Biosciences, Lincoln, NE, USA) showed that CO₂ fluxes measured by the low-cost chamber were consistently lower than those measured by the commercial instrument, averaging approximately 0.75–0.80 times the LI-COR values, indicating systematic underestimation in magnitude, while showing strong linear agreement (R² ≈ 0.98–0.99) across repeated field measurements. This indicates that the system reliably tracks relative changes in soil CO₂ flux, although a systematic bias in magnitude is present. This affordable and user-friendly chamber improves accessibility for researchers and field practitioners, enabling practical monitoring of soil CO₂ flux in applications where cost and portability are critical. Full article