Latest news with #ABLE
CBS News
22-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
New device developed by University of Chicago scientists could find medical answers without blood tests
A lot of people don't like getting their blood drawn, but it is often the only way to obtain medical answers. But scientists at the University of Chicago have developed a device that could obtain medical results without needles. The device is called the airborne biomarker localization engine, or ABLE. Researchers say the device could detect airborne viruses or bacteria in hospitals or public spaces — and thus improve neonatal care, or allow people with diabetes to get a reading on their blood glucose levels just with their breath rather than a finger stick. Professor Bozhi Tian of the University of Chicago explained that the ABLE works through the simple process of changing the state of matter. For generations, the best way to detect molecules has been through liquids such as blood — and even rapid COVID tests involve using droplets of liquid. Looking for particles in the air is much harder because they're so diffuse, but the ABLE has a solution for that, Tian said. "So imagine you have very diluted molecules in air that regular sensors find hard to detect because they are too thinly spread," he said. "Now our device, our ABLE device, solves this problem by cooling the air to turn water vapor into droplets — like how dew forms on a cold window. So this process collects and also concentrates these airborne molecules into the water droplets, making them easier to detect with simple tests, or sensors that are already available, such as the color-changing strips." The new device created by scientists at the University of Chicago to detect molecules in air samples. The technology could one day be used to diagnose a wide array of diseases. Bozhi Tian Tian said the device uses a special water-repellent, or superhydrophobic, surface so the droplets can bounce and be collected. "This can increase the sensitivity by thousands to millions of times compared to the regular gas sensors," he said. Tian said he was first inspired to get started on the project when he visited the Stephen Family Neonatal Intensive Care unit at UChicago's Comer Children's Hospital right after the COVID pandemic. He said he thought, "After seeing those preterm babies struggling, I started to ask myself, as a material scientist, can I actually design some gentle and no-contact sensors to monitor the health — without adding stress or discomfort to the preterm infants?" Tian said he was also inspired by some examples in nature of organisms that use a water-repellent surface to capture liquid from the environment. "For example, some desert beetles, they actually survive by capturing some tiny droplets of moisture from fog — utilizing their very unique and highly water-repellent surface," he said. "Now, another example could be a lotus leaf. The lotus leaves remain clean and also dry, despite this constant exposure to water. And this is because of remarkable super-hydrophobic textures Now, inspired by those ingenious biological designs, we adopted the concept of the superhydrophobic surface to have this condensation system for sensors." Researchers hope the ABLE can optimize care for premature infants without blood tests or other invasive means. There could be numerous other uses, but UChicago noted that the ability to detect airborne molecules in this fashion is so new that scientists don't yet know what molecules they should be looking for. The group is now working with a doctor who treats inflammatory bowel disease, UChicago said. IBD patients may have markers of inflammation in their breath that the ABLE could detect. Mechanical engineer Jingcheng Ma, an assistant professor at the University of Notre Dame who worked on the study, also noted that implications of the ABLE when it comes to revealing new principles of physics. "This work might start many new studies on how these airborne impurities affects phase change behaviors, for example, and the new physics can be used for many applications," Ma said in a UChicago News story by Louise Lerner. The co-authors of the study on the ABLE also included UChicago scientists Megan Laune, Pengju Li, Jing Lu, Jiping Yue, Yueyue Yu, Jessica Cleary, Kaitlyn Oliphant, and Zachary Kessler.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Another L.A. County city using automated cameras to ticket bus lane violations
Camera-powered ticketing systems for bus lane violations are now in effect for another Los Angeles County bus system. On Monday, Culver City officially launched its Automated Bus Lane and Bus Stop Enforcement (ABLE) Program, which uses bus-mounted automated enforcement technology to ticket drivers who block or illegally park in bus lanes, in front of bus stops or along shared bike lanes. 'These illegal parking violations impact the safety, accessibility, and efficiency of public transit—particularly for riders with disabilities—by preventing buses from safely pulling to the curb and forcing passengers to board in unsafe areas,' Culver City officials wrote in a news release. The cameras are in use on Culver CityBus vehicles, which operate seven lines and encompass 33 square miles in Culver City and surrounding communities. The cameras collect evidence of a violation which is later reviewed manually by a human employee. Once confirmed that a parking violation has occurred, a ticket is then mailed to the vehicle's owner. AI cameras ticket thousands for bus lane violations in L.A. A 60-day warning period has come to an end, meaning vehicles will start receiving citations this week. First time offenders can expect to receive a $293 citation for blocking or illegally parking in these designated spots; low-income plans are available to residents. The parking restrictions are not new, but were previously only enforced when a traffic officer was on the scene. Culver CityBus joins LA Metro in administering parking tickets using camera mounted on its buses. Other major cities, including Oakland and Sacramento in California, and New York City, have used similar systems with proven track records, of success, Culver City officials said. In New York, since 2019 when camera enforcement began, bus speeds have increased by as much as 36% in certain high-traffic areas, and collisions along bus routes with the technology decreased by as much as 34%, officials said. For additional information about Culver CityBus and the ABLE Program, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
She Cares For Her Disabled Adult Son Alone. When Child Support Replaced Shared Housing Costs, His SSI Was Cut To $0
When a parent cares full-time for a disabled adult child, Social Security rules can add unexpected financial hurdles. One mother recently shared her story on the r/SocialSecurity subreddit after learning that child support payments — mandated by her state — would completely wipe out her son's Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, benefits. For years, the woman and her now-estranged husband raised their son together. Their adult son, who has a profound developmental disability, qualified for SSI at age 18. While his benefit was already reduced by one-third due to living rent-free with his parents, the family was managing. The father's income covered most of the housing expenses, while the mother — unable to work full-time due to caregiving needs — stayed home with their son. Don't Miss: Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart & Target – Following the couple's separation, the mother became the sole caregiver and lost the household income once contributed by her husband. To meet the state's legal requirements and maintain support for their son, the father was ordered to pay child support, since the adult child cannot live independently. Under SSI rules, any child support paid directly — or even indirectly — for a disabled adult is considered unearned income. SSI benefits are reduced dollar-for-dollar by most unearned income after a $20 general exclusion. So even though the child support is meant to replace the father's share of household expenses, it's treated differently than when he simply lived in the home and paid the bills. In this case, the mother determined that once child support begins, her son's monthly SSI benefit of $644.67 – plus $44 in state assistance – will drop to zero. Trending: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — This change highlights a quirk in SSI regulations: in-kind support and maintenance, such as free shelter, reduces benefits, but cash support like child support can eliminate them entirely. When the father lived in the household, SSA reduced the benefit by only one-third to account for the son receiving free housing. But with parents' divorce and father moving out, his contribution will now be in the form of child support — effectively cancelling the benefit. With the one-third reduction for housing and the subtraction of the child support "income," the son's disability benefit will be reduced to $0 — even though the mother's financial situation has worsened. Commenters on the subreddit pointed out that this rule can create a disincentive to report or receive child support at all, unless the amount exceeds the maximum SSI benefit. One suggestion: have the support money redirected to an ABLE account, a tax-advantaged savings account for individuals with disabilities. Deposits into an ABLE account, if done correctly, may not count against SSI advised that this mother consult her divorce attorney to possibly negotiate alimony instead of child support. These approaches may protect SSI eligibility while still ensuring her son receives support. While these approaches may help in certain situations, they don't account for the fact that the child support is mandated by the state the family lives in. This story reflects a broader challenge faced by families caring for disabled adult children: SSI's strict and often confusing income rules don't always align with real-world caregiving situations. When financial responsibility shifts after divorce, understanding how different types of support are counted can make a significant difference in long-term income and stability. If you're navigating a similar situation, it's wise to consult both a family law attorney and someone experienced with SSI rules — such as a disability benefits advocate or a Social Security expert. Read Next: Invest where it hurts — and help millions heal:. Inspired by Uber and Airbnb – Deloitte's fastest-growing software company is transforming 7 billion smartphones into income-generating assets – Image: Shutterstock Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article She Cares For Her Disabled Adult Son Alone. When Child Support Replaced Shared Housing Costs, His SSI Was Cut To $0 originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Miami Herald
13-04-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Another women's fashion retailer files Chapter 11 bankruptcy
People like to pretend that they will make sacrifices for their ideals. In reality, only a very small percentage of people will pay more or inconvenience themselves because of any specific cause. Sure, people will boycott obvious things. Related: Another discount retailer closing over 1,000 stores You might not eat veal and will become horrified at theme parks that make whales and other animals perform for people, but those aren't really things that come up that often. If a sacrifice actually requires -well, sacrifice - then most people will say they support it, but not actually do anything. That's why many Americans still opt for the convenience of bottled water and will happily take a single-use plastic straw. People might pay a tiny bit more for a product that supports their ideals, but most companies built around doing good fail terribly. Yes, most people support the idea of paying a living wage to the people who pick our coffee or make it at your local chain, but only if that does not impact how much they pay. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Not everyone is selfish, but most people have limited budgets, and they can't really afford (or choose not to afford) supporting ideal-driven companies,. That's why building a company around a cause is often a drag on the business that can't be overcome once the intitial wave of "why they're doing a nice thing" publicity wears off. Another retailer built around activism and doing the right thing has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. It's fine for a retail chain to have a mission, and it can even attract attention for the brand. The problem is that many social issues cost money to fix, and that means higher prices. You can see that the way one fashion retailer has chosen to operate might actually do that. "ABLE exists to create better opportunities for women. Did you know that women make up 80% of the workers in the fashion industry? In an industry that has become (in)famous for poor working conditions and pay, ABLE has seen firsthand how much our community of customers cares about providing high-quality jobs, living wages, and safe working conditions for the people making their pieces," the company shared on its website. Retail closings: Another struggling mall retail chain closing more storesStruggling supermarket chain closes more locationsPopular bank closing dozens of branches (locations revealed) That's a noble goal, but as the company continues, you can see how its mission might not always be good for its customers, or at least for their wallets. "We work to create safe, dignified jobs both in Nashville, where our home office, jewelry studio, and fulfillment center are, and also around the world, through our partnerships with value-aligned manufacturers," the company continued. Fashionable, Inc., which operates under the name ABLE, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on April 9 in the Middle District of Tennessee. The company reported between $1 million and $10 million in assets and the same range of liabilities. "The filing lists between 100-199 creditors, with major claims including CFT Clear Finance Technology Corp. ($945,667), California Department of Tax and Fee Administration ($499,362), and several international suppliers including manufacturers in Ethiopia, Hong Kong, and India. The company operates from facilities in Nashville at 5022 Centennial Blvd. and has assets at 7335 Cockrill Blvd.," RX Consulting reported on Twitter, the former X. The company does plan to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy and continue operations. Its store has not closed and its website continues to operate. Related: Here's the last day this bankrupt mall chain takes gift cards The Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing is only mentioned on the retailer's FAQ page. "This moment marks a challenging but necessary turning point for us - one that we believe will ultimately lead to greater stability and strength. We remain focused on our mission and the values that brought us here, and we're incredibly grateful to have your support as we navigate this next chapter. We are reorganizing, not closing. Chapter 11 is a court-supervised, management-led process designed to help us restructure and move forward," it shared. The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Yahoo
Police training seeks to reduce officer mistakes, misconduct
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Columbus police said nearly 1,800 officers have taken part in training aimed at reducing officer mistakes and misconduct. The Active Bystander for Law Enforcement (ABLE) training was developed by Georgetown University. All about six new laws in Ohio that go into effect today ABLE coordinator Lt. Kiara Husband said the training is about promoting officer wellness, which means a safer community. 'I go back to, 'We're all human. We all have good days and bad days,'' she said. She said the training's concept is something the department has always promoted but gives it a name and focus. ABLE teaches officers to notice when something is off and how to step in. 'We all have lives outside of this place and if you had a bad day at home and it's causing you to come to work and be a little bit more snappy or aggressive than normal, and maybe your coworker picks up on that and talks to you on the side, because then that can translate how you treat the public, not intentionally, but it could also be in the moment,' Husband said. Video shows disagreement between Columbus principal, police officer The eight-hour course is receiving good feedback, Husband said. 'We've actually had it happen in real life where I've been told there have been on runs where people have seen somebody getting heightened, like when a scene is rapidly evolving and a supervisor taps somebody on the shoulder and said, 'Hey, dude, ABLE step out,'' she said. Husband said ABLE is not defined by rank — a new officer could check on a superior and check on themselves. 'How you are at work translates how you are at home and then that also translates how you are at work, translates how you treat the citizens on the street and so, yes, they translate to a better community,' she said. Husband said every new recruit class will go through the training before graduating and hitting the streets. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
