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New ‘smart’ pyjamas for better sleep quality

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Researchers have developed pyjamas embedded with self-powered sensors that provide unobtrusive and continuous monitoring of heartbeat, breathing and sleep posture — all factors that play a role in how well a person slumbers.

The garment called “Phyjama” could give ordinary people as well as clinicians useful information to help improve sleep patterns.
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“Our smart pyjamas overcame numerous technical challenges. We had to inconspicuously integrate sensing elements and portable power sources into everyday garments while maintaining the weight, feel, comfort, function and ruggedness of familiar clothes and fabrics,” said lead author Trisha L. Andrew from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

The key to the smart pyjamas is a process called reactive vapour deposition, according to the findings presented at the American Chemical Society (ACS) Spring 2019 National Meeting and Exposition.

“This method allows us to synthesize a polymer and simultaneously deposit it directly on the fabric in the vapour phase to form various electronic components and ultimately integrated sensors,” said Andrew.

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“Unlike most electronic wearables, the vapour-deposited electronic polymer films are wash-and-wear stable and they withstand mechanically demanding textile manufacturing routines,” he added.

The “Phyjama” has five discrete textile patches with sensors in them. The patches are interconnected using silver-plated nylon threads shielded in cotton.

The wires from each patch end up at a button-sized printed circuit board placed at the same location as a pyjama button. Data are wirelessly sent to a receiver using a small Bluetooth transmitter that is part of the circuitry in the button.

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The garment includes two types of self-powered sensors that detect “ballistic movements” or pressure changes. Four of the patches are piezoelectric. They detect constant pressures like that of a bed against a person’s body.

The triboelectric patch detects quick changes in pressure, such as the physical pumping of the heart which provides information on heart rate, the researcher said.

For the study, the team tested the garment on volunteers and validated the readings from the sensors independently.

Corona

Covid toll in Karnataka is a worrying sign for state government

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Even though Karnataka recorded the lowest number of Covid deaths in April since the virus struck first in 2020, the state is recording a rise in the positivity rate (1.50 per cent). Five people died from the Covid infections in April as per the statistics released by the state health department. In March, the positivity rate stood around 0.53 per cent. In the first week of April it came down to 0.38 per cent, second week registered 0.56 per cent, third week it rose to 0.79 per cent and by end of April the Covid positivity rate touched 1.19 per cent.

on an average 500 persons used to succumb everyday in the peak of Covid infection, as per the data. Health experts said that the mutated Coronavirus is losing its fierce characteristics as vaccination, better treatment facilities and awareness among the people have contributed to the lesser number of Covid deaths.

During the 4th and 6th of April two deaths were reported in Bengaluru, one in Gadag district on April 8, two deaths were reported from Belagavi and Vijayapura on April 30. The first Covid case was reported in the state in March 2020 and three Covid deaths were recorded in the month. In the following month 21 people became victims to the deadly virus, and May 2020 recorded 22 deaths. The death toll recorded everyday after May crossed three digits. However, the third wave, which started in January 2

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