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Research and brokerage firm Bernstein remains optimistic about the future of the cryptocurrency market despite the recent slowdown in spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETFs) flows.

What Happened: In a recent research note, Bernstein analysts Gautam Chhugani and Mahika Sapra suggested that the Bitcoin lull is temporary. They expect an upward trajectory, with Bitcoin potentially reaching a $150,000 price target by the end of 2025, The Block reported.

The integration of Bitcoin ETFs into mainstream financial platforms, such as private banks, wealth advisors and brokerages, will require time, they say. These institutions develop the necessary compliance frameworks.

Chhugani and Sapra also point to the impressive $12 billion in net inflows since the launch of spot bitcoin ETFs and the robust performance of leading Bitcoin miners post-halving as indicators of the markets underlying strength. Loading… Loading…

Also Read:Bitcoin Is In Correction Mode,' But That's Necessary For The Chart To Look Good,' Crypto Trader Reassures

Ethereum ETFs: The analysts predict that if the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) denies spot Ethereum ETFs, it would likely be overturned in court.

They drew parallels to the Grayscale Bitcoin ETF case and cited the inconsistent correlation between spot and futures markets.

If the SEC were to deny on the basis of ether being classified as a security, it would create a conflicting situation with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which views ether as a commodity.

In either scenario, the analysts suggest that an SEC denial could shift the market focus back to ether, which they believe offers an appealing risk-reward profile given its recent underperformance relative to bitcoin. This renewed attention could also benefit ETH-beta Layer-2 tokens, such as Arbitrum ARB/USD , Optimism OP/USD , and Polygon MATIC/USD .

The Bernstein analysts also highlighted the growth potential of various other crypto niches and projects. They noted Solanas SOL/USD strong position in crypto payments, the expanding influence of DeFi platforms like Uniswap UNI/USD , GMX GMX/USD , and Synthetix SNX/USD , and the real-world asset market.

In conclusion, Chhugani and Sapra reaffirmed their projection that the total crypto market cap will surge to $7.5 trillion within the next 18 to 24 months, even amid the current market consolidation. The analysts remain optimistic about the long-term prospects of the asset class and its capacity to transform traditional financial structures.

Whats Next: These topics are expected to be thoroughly explored at Benzingas upcoming Future of Digital Assetsevent on Nov. 19.

Read Next:Bitcoin And Ethereum Take Center Stage According To Coinbase Q2 Crypto Market Guide

This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.Loading… Loading… Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

By Pooja Toshniwal Paharia Apr 30 2024 Reviewed by Lily Ramsey, LLM

In a recent study published in Scientific Advances, researchers created a bioresorbable, cordless, passive sensor that monitors pH locally and detects stomach leakage early on.

Study:  Bioresorbable, wireless, passive sensors for continuous pH measurements and early detection of gastric leakage . Image Credit: sasirin pamai/Shutterstock.com Background

Biomarkers surrounding internal organs can give postoperative information, such as intra-abdominal pH changes following stomach surgery. Traditional radiological procedures are neither biocompatible nor appropriate for temporary implants.

An implanted, wireless pH sensor might be the most efficient method for rapid detection. Recent improvements in response-generating hydrogels show promise for point-of-care medical diagnostics.

Incorporating pH-responsive hydrogels into wireless electrical devices may be an effective engineering strategy. About the study

In the present study, researchers developed a bioresorbable device for early detection of anastomotic leaks following gastric surgery, using passive analog-type wireless communications to ensure rapid reaction times and early clinical outcomes.

A pH-sensitive hydrogel functioned as the transducer, connecting to a mechanically designed inductor-capacitor circuit, enabling wireless reading. The hydrogel is functionalized with pH-responsive-type tertiary amines, resulting in specific, mechanically durable, biodegradable, and pH-responsive hydrogels.

This material provided supporting matrices for inductor-capacitor (LC) resonance circuits, rapidly converting dimensional alterations into resonant frequency shifts in magnitudes measured precisely by inductive connections to external reading devices.

Mechanics models help inform decisions on the optimum hydrogel and circuit component geometries, particularly that of the sensor inductor. Systematic investigations in animals and device setups in vitro confirm the device's continuous pH monitoring ability.

The researchers established the technology's biocompatibility and bioresorbability by histological examinations, complete blood count (CBC) testing, and serum chemistry. Related StoriesEngineered peptides show promise in cancer immunotherapyResearchers elucidate how gene mutation mechanism causes autismStudy finds high microplastic levels in Mediterranean fish despite low chemical contaminants

The fabrication technique included combining poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate (PEGDA), poly[2- (diisopropylamine)ethyl methacrylate (PDPAEMA), and 2,2- dimethoxy- 2- phenyl acetophenone (DMPA), curing the hydrogel with UV radiation, and laser cutting Zn foils to form an inductor with spiral coils.

Molten bioresorbable wax was infused into the channels, resulting in a homogeneous, electrically insulating layer. The location of the inductor and capacitor was determined by demolding the wax-coated Zn coil and casting the pH-responsive hydrogel prepolymer.

The researchers defined the capacitor's top and bottom electrodes by laser-cutting Zn foil discs. The reading system consists of a VNA and a single-turn coil. Setting the VNA to reflective mode allows for measurements of the actual and virtual portions of the S-matrix element S11.

The pH of all buffer solutions and biofluids is calibrated and verified with an ion-sensitive field-effect transistor pH meter.

The study included adult male Lewis rats aged 14-16 weeks acclimatized for up to 7 days before surgery. During the implantation procedure, the rats were given general anesthesia via inhaled isoflurane vapor.

The team conducted functional tests on euthanized pigs and several rat models. They obtained blood samples four, six, and twelve weeks after implantation and preserved the explanted organs in neutral-buffered formalin for histological research. Results

The platform monitors gastric fluid leakage during the crucial risk phase after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). It uses wireless readout coils to measure the sensor circuit's resonance frequency, which is affected by the surrounding biological fluid acidity.

Any leaking stomach contents (pH 1.0 to 3.0) infiltrate the hydrogel, causing edema and sudden resonant frequency (FS) shift, necessitating surgical intervention. The device degrades spontaneously following the healing time, reducing the dangers and expenses associated with future extraction operations.

The sensitive part of the monitoring device is the pH-reactive hydrogel enclosed in an inductor with a serpentine spiral shape.

The hydrogel degrades in biological fluids by hydrolyzing the constituent ester groups or ether cleavage during oxidation, rendering it water-soluble, harmless, and removable from the human body. The inductor design seeks to reduce mechanical compliance while maintaining low resistance and a high quality (Q) factor.

Performance assessments centered on the wireless readout showed that the sensor could achieve accuracy across a wide range of approximately 3.0 cm through the air and 2.0 cm through fat and lean tissues. 

Non-destructive medical imaging technologies, such as ultrasonography, can aid in determining the precise placement of deployed sensors during routine bedside examinations. Additional trials show that the sensor can respond to acid injected up to 6.0 cm away within an hour.  

The researchers used small and large animal models to test stability and appropriate functioning during a seven-day therapeutically relevant timeframe.

The study shows that implantation of a pH sensor in rat models does not harm organ tissues or produce inflammatory responses such as immune cell aggregation.

The study presents a wireless device for postoperative monitoring of gastric leakage and biosorption following surgery. The sensor, which causes water and hydrogen ion diffusion into a biodegradable hydrogel, enables volumetric expansion and inductance changes.

These changes can be wirelessly sensed as shifts in the resonance frequency and recorded via near-field coupling to an external reader. Mechanical models help guide design decisions, and potential enhancements include increasing wireless sensing range and merging tethered and deployable hydrogel device designs. Journal reference:

Shuo Li et al. (2024) Bioresorbable, wireless, passive sensors for continuous pH measurements and early detection of gastric leakage. Sci. Adv. 2024, 10, eadj0268, doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adj0268. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adj0268

In the not-too-distant future, automatic emergency braking will have to come standard on all new passenger vehicles in the US, a requirement that the government says will save hundreds of lives and prevent thousands of injuries every year.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration unveiled the final version of the new regulation on Monday and called it the most significant safety rule in the past two decades.

Its designed to prevent many rear-end and pedestrian collisions and reduce the roughly 40,000 traffic deaths that happen each year.

Were living through a crisis in roadway deaths, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in an interview. So we need to do something about it.

Its the governments first attempt to regulate automated driving functions and is likely to help curb some of the problems that have surfaced with driver-assist and fully automated driving systems.

Although about 90% of new vehicles have the automatic braking standard now under a voluntary agreement with automakers, at present there are no performance requirements, so some systems are may not be that effective.

The new regulations set standards for vehicles to automatically stop and avoid hitting other vehicles or pedestrians, even at night.

Part of how I think were going to turn the corner on the unacceptable level of roadway deaths that we just lived with for my entire lifetime is through these kinds of technologies, said Buttigieg, who is 42. We need to make sure we set high performance standards.

The regulation, which will require additional engineering to bolster software and possibly add hardware such as radar, wont go into effect for more than five years.

That will give automakers time to bolster their systems during the normal model update cycle, NHTSA said.

It also will drive up prices, which NHTSA estimates at $354 million per year in 2020 dollars, or $82 per vehicle. But Buttigieg said it will save 362 lives per year, prevent about 24,000 injuries and save billions in property damage.

Critics say the standards should have come sooner, and that they dont appear to require that the systems spot people on bicycles, scooters or other vulnerable people.

The new rule requires all passenger vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or less to have forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection braking.

The standards require vehicles to stop and avoid hitting a vehicle in front of them at speeds up to 62 miles per hour. Also they must apply the brakes automatically at up to 90 mph if a collision with vehicle ahead is imminent.

The systems also have to spot pedestrians during the day and night, and must stop and avoid a pedestrian at 31 mph to 40 mph depending on the pedestrians location and movement.

The agency said that in 2019, nearly 2.2 million rear-end crashes were reported to police nationwide, killing 1,798 people and injuring 574,000 others. Sixty percent of fatal rear-end crashes and 73% of injury crashes were on roads with speed limits of 60 mph or below.

In addition, there were 6,272 pedestrians killed in crashes, with 65% of those people being hit by the front of a passenger vehicle.

The vast majority of deaths, injuries and property damage happens at speeds above 25 mph, speeds that are not covered by the voluntary agreement, the agency said.

Only regulation can ensure that all vehicles are equipped with AEB (automatic emergency braking) that meet minimum performance requirements, the regulation says.

NHTSA would conduct random tests to determine whether automakers are meeting the standards.

The agency said it isnt requiring what type of sensors each automaker must have to meet the requirements. Thats up to the automakers. But in testing of 17 vehicles, only one a 2023 Toyota Corolla equipped with cameras and radar met the standards.

The regulation said radar would have to be added to about 5% of the systems in order to comply with the requirements.

Cathy Chase, president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, said the new standards will make it clear to car buyers that AEB will work properly. Most consumers, she said, are unaware that there are no requirements in place now.

By and large, its better to have AEB than not have AEB, she said. So once the AEB rule is put into place, once again the federal government will be doing its job and protecting consumers.

NHTSA said itchanged its original proposal, giving automakers more than five years to meet the standards instead of three. Chase said shorter would be better.

The shorter the timeline, the more people are going to be saved, the quicker these are going to get into cars and our roadways are going to be safer for everyone, she said.

Chase said she is not pleased that the rule does not appear to include standards for bicyclists or people using scooters.