Fashion

A New Device Aims to Make Breast Cancer Screening Part of Your Regular Self-Care Ritual

A 23-year-old inventor has been awarded the James Dyson Award for the creation of a new at-home breast cancer screening device that could eventually give more women access to early detection….

The Blue Box—which is, quite literally, a small blue box—is a biomedical device that takes a non-irradiating, non-invasive approach to breast cancer detection. To use it, a urine sample is simply slid into a drawer of the device, then The Blue Box’s chemical sensors scan it for targeted biomarkers and the information is sent via an app to be processed. “The Blue Box sends the info to the phone and then to the cloud and then our server uses an artificial intelligence algorithm [to assess the results],” Benet, who graduated from UC Irvine this summer with a Master’s in Embedded Cyber-physical Systems, explains. “So even though what you see is the box, the key value is the software behind it.” Once a diagnosis is reached, results are sent back to your phone.

Judit Gir Benet with a prototype of The Blue Box — Judit Giró Benet with a prototype of The Blue BoxPhoto: Courtesy of The James Dyson Award 2020

Benet doesn’t see her invention as a replacement for the traditional mammogram, but rather a device that will support it and, more importantly, help look at breast cancer screening from a new perspective. “The Blue Box is about disrupting the way we think about screening and encouraging women to take a more active role,” Benet adds. She was motivated in part by an awareness of the innate gender bias in cancer research: “Women are two to three times more likely to have adverse symptoms to cancer drugs because research is typically done on the male population and is also being carried out by men,” she says.

While the device is still in the early stages of development—they are in the process of patenting the technology, undertaking further testing on even more cancer patients at a hospital in Spain, and applying for FDA approval, which will hopefully come in about two years—Benet envisions it one day becoming just another part of women’s health and wellness routines. “I want it to become something so typical that everyone can have The Blue Box in their home and families can screen regularly as part of their breast cancer prevention,” she says. And while Benet’s initial impetus with The Blue Box was intellectual, it would become personal as well. “In the middle of this Blue Box adventure my mom actually got diagnosed with breast cancer,” she shares. “She was lucky and she’s now perfectly healthy, but her diagnosis made me realize how much this disease really touches every family.”

Benet’s invention is an extremely promising development in the world of breast cancer screening and joins a wave of new devices. While Freedman finds these new technologies exciting, she emphasizes the need for further study of their potential. “I encourage these technological advances to pursue the right type of clinical trials to make sure the benefits of a test—improved cancer detection, improved survival—outweigh any harms—such as false positives, anxiety, additional testing for benign findings, finding cancers that would never harm a patient,” she says. “I really look forward to seeing how these advances can be integrated into care over time.” Benet’s hope for the future, once she does get FDA approval, is that her invention might one day be used to detect other cancers as well. “That’s the fun part about artificial intelligence, you get to discover what an algorithm is capable of,” she adds. For the future of breast cancer screenings, it’s a marriage of artificial and human intelligence that may hold the most promise.

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Fashion

Raekwon Unveils “The Emperor’s New Clothes” With All-Star Lineup

Raekwon, a legendary rapper known for his role in the Wu-Tang Clan, has just announced his long-awaited eighth studio album, titled “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” set to be released through Mass Appeal. Although no singles have been shared yet, the album is already creating a buzz and is highly anticipated this summer. It’s been seven years since Raekwon last released a solo album, and this new project feels more like a grand return than just another release.

He’s teamed up with a mix of familiar faces from the Wu-Tang Clan and some fresh talent in hip-hop. Listeners can look forward to clever lyrics and captivating stories filled with raw emotion. Raekwon has invited his Wu-Tang brothers Ghostface Killah, Method Man, and Inspectah Deck to feature on the album, ensuring a classic blend that fans love. He’s also brought in well-respected artists outside of the Wu-Tang family, like Nas and members of the Griselda collective, Westside Gunn, Benny The Butcher, and Conway The Machine, who are known for their gritty style.

Adding to the variety, singers Stacy Barthe and Marsha Ambrosius will provide soulful vocals to complement Raekwon’s hard-hitting verses. The album’s production features talented names like Swizz Beatz, Nottz, J.U.S.T.I.C.E League, Frank G, and Roadsart, promising a rich, cinematic sound that matches Raekwon’s lyrical skills. Even with such an impressive lineup, there’s still a sense of mystery around the album. There have been no early songs or previews released, just the announcement itself, which builds even more expectation.

But for Raekwon, this is part of his journey. He has always delivered powerful lyrics and relatable street stories without much introduction. The title, The Emperor’s New Clothes, suggests a fresh start and a daring vision that might challenge the current state of rap. With his experienced flow and storytelling still sharp, Raekwon seems prepared to reestablish his place among the top artists in hip-hop.

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Fashion

Wendy Williams Makes Stylish Splash At Columbia Supporting Her Designer

In a delightful surprise for fans and fashion enthusiasts, Wendy Williams made a rare appearance at Columbia University on Tuesday, and everyone couldn’t help but notice her. The former talk show host was in high spirits as she showed up to support her longtime friend and fashion designer, Mel Maxi. Wendy looked fantastic in a stylish black-and-white outfit that included a Yankee hat and her trademark flair.

Designed by Maxi himself, her outfit was not just chic but also had a personal touch that highlighted her vibrant personality. In a heartwarming moment recorded on video, Wendy told Maxi, “This is amazing! This was specifically designed for me… this is really hand done.” Wendy came to cheer on Maxi, who was set to give a lecture about fashion design at the prestigious university. Her appearance was a meaningful moment between two creative friends who have supported each other for years. Wendy’s presence emphasized the importance of friendship and collaboration in the creative world.

As she walked by, a nearby fan shouted their love for Wendy, and she instinctively responded with her signature warmth and enthusiasm: “Thank you!” she exclaimed with a big smile. After being away from the spotlight for months, Wendy’s visit was a refreshing change for fans who have missed her lively spirit. There were no fancy events or flashing cameras, just Wendy enjoying the moment, supporting a friend, and reminding us all of the significance of showing up for the people we care about.

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