Latest news with #Frontiers
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
From Soundwaves to Silicon: How Ritz Media World delivers next-gen brand campaigns
Noida, August 15, 2025: Seventeen years ago, in a small café in Noida, two young visionaries, Ritesh Malik and Satvinder Kaur, sketched an idea on a napkin. Their goal wasn't to conquer every marketing medium, but to master one: turning radio into a brand's most powerful storyteller. Founded in 2008, Ritz Media World is a full-service marketing and communications agency. That spark became Ritz Media World (RMW), an agency built on audio campaigns that became cultural earworms and earned industry trust. From Radio Waves to Digital Frontiers By the mid-2010s, audience attention was shifting. While radio still carried magic, digital channels, immersive technology, and data-led campaigns were becoming essential. Ritz Media World embraced change, evolving from an audio-specialist to a multi-platform, technology-powered marketing agency. Today, its integrated service suite spans: Digital Marketing : SEO, performance marketing, social media strategy, paid media. : SEO, performance marketing, social media strategy, paid media. Creative Design : Brand identity, campaign creatives, packaging, and high-impact visuals. : Brand identity, campaign creatives, packaging, and high-impact visuals. Content Marketing : Blogs, films, influencer collaborations, and branded storytelling. : Blogs, films, influencer collaborations, and branded storytelling. Experiential Marketing : Event strategy, design, and production for exhibitions, activations, and launches. : Event strategy, design, and production for exhibitions, activations, and launches. Public Relations : Media outreach, reputation management, thought leadership. : Media outreach, reputation management, thought leadership. Technology-Led Solutions: Generative AI design, AR/VR/MR experiences, holographic displays, gesture & voice recognition, projection mapping, IoT, robotics, gamification, and 3D anamorphic content. Innovation at the Core Ritz Media World's evolution reflects a deliberate move toward immersive, interactive, and globally benchmarked marketing solutions. Its portfolio now includes: AI-powered creative development for campaigns, events, and brand storytelling. for campaigns, events, and brand storytelling. Metaverse platform launches and NFT design & deployment . and . Hyper-realistic digital twins for product showcases and brand experiences. for product showcases and brand experiences. Sustainable, green-tech-driven event and marketing production . . Multi-city and multi-channel brand activations integrated with real-time digital engagement. A Culture of Reinvention What sets RMW apart is its proactive approach to transformation. Over the last five years, the agency has: Built in-house AI/ML and Web 3.0 marketing expertise . . Integrated emerging display and interactive technologies into brand campaigns. into brand campaigns. Developed data-backed audience engagement systems for more measurable outcomes. Looking Ahead: Year 18 and Beyond For Ritesh and Satvinder, the journey is just entering its most exciting phase. The roadmap includes: Expanding AI-powered creative labs for rapid, data-led campaign creation. for rapid, data-led campaign creation. Scaling AR/VR brand experience studios for immersive product launches. for immersive product launches. Building global innovation partnerships to bring world-class solutions to Indian and international markets. 'We've gone from writing radio scripts to writing algorithms,' says the Ritz Media World Team. 'But at the heart of it, we still do what we've always done, understand people, and tell stories that connect. The mediums change, but the mission doesn't; we create impact. Whether through a jingle, a digital ad, or a holographic brand launch, our goal is to leave a lasting impression.' About Ritz Media World Founded in 2008, Ritz Media World is a full-service marketing and communications agency blending creativity with emerging technologies. From award-winning audio campaigns to AI-powered activations, Ritz Media World delivers end-to-end, measurable brand solutions that push the boundaries of possibility in marketing. Media Contact: Ritz Media World – Noida, India 📞 +91-7290002168 🌐 Note to the Reader: This article is part of Hindustan Times' promotional consumer connect initiative and is independently created by the brand. Hindustan Times assumes no editorial responsibility for the content.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
10 Everyday habits that could be secretly damaging your brain function
Your brain powers every thought, emotion, and action you take, yet many everyday habits can quietly chip away at its health. From skipping quality sleep and sitting too long to listening to loud music through headphones, these seemingly harmless choices can slowly weaken memory, focus, and problem-solving ability. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Over time, they may even raise the risk of serious conditions like dementia and Alzheimer's disease. The good news? Once you know the risks, small changes can make a big difference. Here are 10 common brain-damaging habits, the science behind why they're harmful, and simple strategies to protect your cognitive health. Daily habits that secretly harm your brain by weakening memory, slowing thinking, and increasing disease risk Skipping quality sleep According to a published in NIH, during deep sleep, your brain performs vital housekeeping, removing toxins like beta-amyloid (a protein linked to Alzheimer's) and consolidating short-term memories into long-term storage. Chronic sleep deprivation disrupts this process, leading to brain fog, slower reaction times, poor decision-making, and mood swings. Missing just one night of proper rest can measurably impair attention and learning ability. Adults should aim for 7–9 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night. Surprisingly easy ways to protect your brain and prevent stroke Sitting for long periods According to a published in Frontiers, when you remain seated for hours, blood circulation slows, reducing the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the brain. Studies link prolonged sitting to structural brain changes, particularly in the hippocampus, an area critical for learning and memory. Simple changes like standing while taking calls, walking during breaks, or using a sit-stand desk can significantly improve blood flow and cognitive performance. Multitasking too often Multitasking forces your brain to rapidly switch between tasks rather than truly doing them simultaneously. This constant shifting increases mental fatigue, lowers efficiency, and weakens the ability to filter out irrelevant information. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Over time, it can erode attention span and working memory. Prioritising one task at a time allows for deeper focus and stronger retention of information. Eating a poor diet Your brain uses about 20% of your body's energy, so nutrition plays a critical role in its performance. According to a published in NIH, diets high in processed foods, refined sugars, and unhealthy fats promote inflammation and oxidative stress, two factors that accelerate brain ageing. A diet rich in whole foods, especially omega-3-rich fish, leafy greens, berries, nuts, and seeds, provides the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that protect brain cells and enhance communication between neurons. Chronic Stress According to the published in Frontiers, prolonged stress triggers a steady release of cortisol, a hormone that, in high levels, can shrink the hippocampus and impair the brain's ability to form new memories. It also disrupts sleep patterns and weakens the immune system. Stress management strategies such as deep breathing, journaling, yoga, or regular exercise not only calm the nervous system but also improve resilience to mental fatigue. Social isolation Regular human interaction stimulates brain regions involved in emotional regulation, memory recall, and problem-solving. Isolation deprives the brain of this stimulation, increasing the risk of depression and cognitive decline. Even short, daily interactions—like chatting with a neighbour or calling a friend—help maintain neural pathways and support emotional well-being. Listening to loud music through headphones Repeated exposure to loud music, especially through headphones, can cause permanent hearing damage by harming the tiny hair cells in the inner ear. Hearing loss doesn't just affect the ears—it forces the brain to work harder to interpret sounds, leaving less energy for memory, attention, and reasoning. published in the National Institutes of Health also links untreated hearing loss to a higher risk of dementia. To protect your hearing and brain, follow the 60/60 rule: listen at no more than 60% volume for no longer than 60 minutes at a stretch. Neglecting mental stimulation Your brain, much like a muscle, needs regular exercise to stay sharp. A lack of mental challenges can cause neural pathways to weaken, reducing problem-solving speed and memory capacity. Reading, playing chess, solving puzzles, learning a new skill, or even exploring a new hobby forces the brain to form new connections and strengthens cognitive reserve, a protective factor against dementia. Not Drinking enough water Since the brain is about three-quarters water, even mild dehydration can cause headaches, fatigue, short-term memory lapses, and poor concentration. Dehydration thickens the blood, making it harder for oxygen and nutrients to reach brain cells. Drinking water consistently throughout the day (not just when you feel thirsty) is essential for maintaining peak cognitive function. Overexposure to screens before bed Screens emit blue light, which suppresses melatonin, the hormone that signals to your body that it's time to sleep. Using devices right before bed disrupts your natural sleep-wake cycle, reducing the quality of deep sleep the brain needs for memory consolidation and cellular repair. Switching to books, dim lighting, or calming audio before bed can restore healthy sleep patterns and improve mental clarity. The brain can be surprisingly sensitive to everyday habits, but the good news is that small, consistent lifestyle changes, like improving diet, managing stress, moving more, and protecting hearing, can keep it healthy for years to come Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition or lifestyle change. Also Read:
The Star
4 days ago
- Health
- The Star
Study warns one third of UK family doctors could leave over burnout
LONDON, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Up to one-third of Britain's family doctors, the backbone of the National Health Service (NHS), may consider leaving direct patient care within five years, mainly due to burnout and job dissatisfaction, according to a University of Manchester study on Tuesday. The research, published in Frontiers in Public Health and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research's School of Primary Care Research and the Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration, is the first to identify how General Practitioners (GPs) in England are becoming less engaged with their work, often leading to decisions to quit patient care. Based on a survey of 351 GPs from 57 practices, 27 percent reported burnout symptoms, 33 percent expressed moderate to high intention to leave, 20 percent had low job satisfaction, and 40 percent reported poor work-life balance. A quarter said they had worked while unwell in the past year. Lead author Christos Grigoroglou said job dissatisfaction and burnout were strong signals that GPs were at high risk of quitting, while poor work-life balance and working while unwell were also contributing factors. "There is an urgent need to address these issues if we are to improve GP retention," he said. Co-author Maria Panagioti stressed that retention policies should focus on enhancing job satisfaction and wellbeing, adding that improving work-life balance and reducing presenteeism could be effective early measures to retain doctors.
Euronews
5 days ago
- Health
- Euronews
AI could help detect throat cancer from voice recordings, study says
A simple voice recording could one day help doctors spot early signs of throat cancer, according to new research. In a study published in Frontiers in Digital Health, scientists found that artificial intelligence (AI) could potentially detect abnormal growths on the vocal cords, from benign nodules to early-stage laryngeal cancer, by analysing short voice recordings. The findings could support efforts to find an easier, faster way to diagnose cancerous lesions on the vocal cords, also known as folds. 'With this dataset we could use vocal biomarkers to distinguish voices from patients with vocal fold lesions from those without such lesions,' said Phillip Jenkins, the study's lead author and a postdoctoral researcher in clinical informatics at Oregon Health and Science University in the United States. Why early detection of throat cancer matters Cancer of the voice box, or larynx, affects more than a million people worldwide and kills roughly 100,000 every year. It is the 20th most common cancer in the world. Smoking, alcohol use, and certain strains of HPV (human papillomavirus) are key risk factors, and survival rates vary from around 35 per cent to 90 per cent depending on how early the disease is diagnosed, according to Cancer Research UK. One of the most common warning signs for laryngeal cancer is hoarseness or changes in the voice that last more than three weeks. Other symptoms include a persistent sore throat or cough, difficulty or pain when swallowing, a lump in the neck or throat, and ear pain. Early detection of laryngeal cancer is crucial because it significantly improves survival rates and treatment outcomes. Yet current diagnostic methods, including nasal endoscopies and biopsies, are invasive, uncomfortable, and often slow, requiring specialist equipment and expertise that many patients struggle to access quickly. Developing a simple tool to flag early signs of vocal fold abnormalities through a quick voice recording could transform how throat cancer is detected – making it faster, more affordable and accessible to a wider population. The next steps for AI-driven diagnosis The research team examined about 12,500 voice recordings from 306 people across North America. They looked for subtle acoustic patterns, such as changes in pitch, loudness, and harmonic clarity. The team identified clear differences for men in the harmonic-to-noise ratio and pitch between those with healthy voices, benign lesions, and cancer. No significant patterns were found in women, but the researchers say this may be due to the smaller dataset. Jenkins said that the results indicate large datasets "could soon help make our voice a practical biomarker for cancer risk in clinical care'. The next step is to train AI models on larger, professionally labelled datasets and test them in clinical settings. The team would also need to test the system to make sure it works well for both men and women, he said. 'Voice-based health tools are already being piloted," Jenkins said. "Building on our findings, I estimate that with larger datasets and clinical validation, similar tools to detect vocal fold lesions might enter pilot testing in the next couple of years".
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Health
- The Irish Sun
Cancer could be diagnosed from the sound of your VOICE ‘within years'
Anyone with a hoarse voice is already told to visit the GP LISTEN UP Cancer could be diagnosed from the sound of your VOICE 'within years' THE early signs of cancer could be detected by listening to a patient's voice, scientists say. Using AI, subtle changes in the acoustics of a person's voice helped pick up lesions in people diagnosed with voice box cancer. 2 The sound of your voice could indicate whether you have signs of cancer Credit: Getty Researchers believe AI could be trained to hear these changes within a "couple of years'. There are around 2,000 new cases of voice box (laryngeal) cancer in the UK each year. A hoarse voice for more than three weeks can be a key symptom, and should be investigated by a GP. Using AI for diagnosis could spell the end of uncomfortable tests currently used, such as a biopsy or nasendoscopy, in which a thin tube with a video camera is passed through the nose down the back of the throat. Read more on cancer HIGH FIVE The 5 simple tweaks you can make TODAY to slash your risk of 5 killer diseases The American team, part of the 'Bridge2AI-Voice' project, gathered voice recordings of 300 patients, some of whom had voice box cancer. They studied at least six features of voice acoustics: the mean fundamental frequency (pitch); jitter, variation in pitch within speech; shimmer, variation of the amplitude; and the harmonic-to-noise ratio. There were "marked" differences between men with and without cancer or a voice box disorder, such as nodules or polyps, specifically the harmonic-to-noise ratio, according to the findings published in the journal Frontiers in Digital Health. It's possible the same will be found for women with a larger dataset. One of the study's authors, Dr Phillip Jenkins, of Oregon Health & Science University, said: "To move from this study to an AI tool that recognises vocal fold lesions, we would train models using an even larger dataset of voice recordings, labelled by professionals. "We then need to test the system to make sure it works equally well for women and men. BBC Gardeners world fans in tears as star reveals terminal cancer diagnosis during show "Voice-based health tools are already being piloted. "I estimate that with larger datasets and clinical validation, similar tools to detect vocal fold lesions might enter pilot testing in the next couple of years." 2 Voice box cancer, or laryngeal cancer, causes voice hoarseness, pain swallowing, or difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath and weight loss Credit: Getty The symptoms of voice box cancer Cancer Research UK have said there are four key symptoms of laryngeal cancer to look out for: 1. Hoarseness or a change in your voice If you have a hoarse voice for more than 3 weeks, it could be a sign of laryngeal cancer, says Cancer Research UK. It's worth seeing a doctor for a full check up and diagnosis, as inflammation of the larynx can also be caused by a cold, a chest infection and overuse of the voice, like singing. 2. Pain or difficulty swallowing If you're experiencing pain or having difficulty swallowing, it might be an indicator something is wrong. Visit your GP if for three weeks or more, you feel: that there is something small stuck in your throat you are struggling to swallow food some pain or a burning sensation when swallowing food that your food is sticking in your throat 3. Shortness of breath Experiencing shortness of breath is a symptom that should trigger an urgent response. Call 999 if you suddenly experience shortness of breath or are struggling to breathe. Some people may also find they have a cough that doesn't go away, they find it difficult to breath or when they inhale it's become noisy (stridor). 4. Weight loss Sudden or dramatic weight loss is a key sign of cancer, including laryngeal. Usually it will happen alongside other symptoms and the body's way of communicating that there is a problem. It may also happen because you're eating less due to pain or because you're having difficulty swallowing. You should see your doctor if you have lost 4 to 5 kg (10lbs) or more in a short time.
