University of Texas Arlington

Engineering medical advances

J.C. Chiao, UT Arlington professor of electrical engineering, was featured in an American Public Media Marketplace (NPR) report on a Federal Communications Commission vote scheduled for today on setting aside part of the broadcast spectrum for wireless medical devices. According to the FCC's estimates, these machines could save over a billion dollars in health care costs. Chiao said: “if the device can be worn by the patient, or implanted inside the patient, after outpatient procedure, for example, endoscopy procedure, the doctor can send the patient home, and all the data will be continuously monitored."

Researching the single life

The Wall Street Journal quoted research by Wendy Casper, an associate professor of management at The University of Texas at Arlington, in a story about single people who, tired of juggling the pressures of work and personal life, opt out of high-powered, and often high-paying careers to have more time for family, friends and other outside interests. Casper found that for men and women alike, some managers still assume singles don't have anything to do but work and pile on extra duties and projects.

Athletic moves draw attention

Sun Belt Conference officials said Wednesday that UT Arlington's growth potential and its place in the Dallas-Fort Worth media market made it an immediate target for inclusion in the conference when spots became available through the defections of North Texas and Florida International, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported. UTA administrators are expected to formally accept an invitation today, pending approval from the University of Texas Board of Regents, and begin competing in the Sun Belt beginning July 1, 2013. Several other outlets, including the Dallas Business Journal and KTVT/CBS 11’s website, reported on the potential move.

Battling SIDS

A UT Arlington team is working on a device that they hope could reduce incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, according to report on WGHP/Fox 8 (Greensboro, NC). Electrical engineering professor J.C. Chiao, doctoral candidate Hung Cao and Heather Beardsley, a research engineer at TMAC, or the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center, have developed a sensitive wireless sensor system that can detect carbon dioxide exhaled by babies as they sleep. But more importantly, the sensors know when infants are not expelling carbon dioxide – quickly enough to allow intervention.

Hosting junior champions

Fox Sports for Kids broadcast a segment on a wheelchair basketball tournament held at UT Arlington in February. Some of the top players in the National Wheelchair Basketball Association Junior Southwest Conference participated in the event.