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Sep 7, 2016
Tapping the unused potential of photosynthesis
Posted by Karen Hurst in categories: biological, food, sustainability
Scientists from the University of Southampton have reengineered the fundamental process of photosynthesis to power useful chemical reactions that could be used to produce biofuels, pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals.
Photosynthesis is the pivotal biological reaction on the planet, providing the food we eat, the oxygen we breathe and removing CO2 from the atmosphere.
Photosynthesis in plants and algae consists of two reactions, the light-reactions absorb light energy from the sun and use this to split water (H2O) into electrons, protons and oxygen and the dark-reactions which use the electrons and protons from the light reactions to ‘fix’ CO2 from the atmosphere into simple sugars that are the basis of the food chain. Importantly, the light reactions have a much higher capacity than the dark reactions resulting in much of the absorbed light energy being wasted as heat rather than being used to ‘fix’ CO2.
Nice.
In light of new observations, the traditional dusty-torus picture of active galactic nuclei may need revision.
Sep 7, 2016
Nano-lipid Particles From Edible Ginger Could Improve Drug Delivery for Colon Cancer, Study Finds
Posted by Karen Hurst in categories: biotech/medical, food, nanotechnology, particle physics
A new tool to battle colon cancer.
Edible ginger-derived nano-lipids created from a specific population of ginger nanoparticles show promise for effectively targeting and delivering chemotherapeutic drugs used to treat colon cancer, according to a study by researchers at the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University, the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Wenzhou Medical University and Southwest University in China.
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer among men and women in the United States, and the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men and women worldwide. The incidence of colorectal cancer has increased over the last few years, with about one million new cases diagnosed annually. Non-targeted chemotherapy is the most common therapeutic strategy available for colon cancer patients, but this treatment method is unable to distinguish between cancerous and healthy cells, leading to poor therapeutic effects on tumor cells and severe toxic side effects on healthy cells. Enabling chemotherapeutic drugs to target cancer cells would be a major development in the treatment of colon cancer.
Sep 7, 2016
Nano-based masks for a more comfortable radiation treatment
Posted by Karen Hurst in categories: biotech/medical, nanotechnology
Very hopeful — Nano-based masks for a more comfortable radiation treatment.
BOSTON, Sept. 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — September 25–28, 2016 – Like every year, Orfit Industries will be present at the ASTRO Annual Meeting in the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center known to be the world’s most important meeting for the radiation oncology community, with more than 11,000 people attending each year. Orfit Industries invites customers, medical specialists and professionals to come to the Orfit booth (no. 2033) and try on the new generation of nano-based masks.
Compared to Efficast® masks used for head and neck immobilization, immobilization masks made from nano-enhanced thermoplastic sheets provide the patient with more comfort through a lower degree of shrinkage and therefore reduced pressure on the face during radiation therapy. The issue of mask tightness is a very common one as medication received during the radiation treatment phase may result in an increase in the volume of the patient.
In its efforts to provide a higher degree of patient comfort, Orfit Industries developed a nano-based thermoplastic material that results in thinner masks with less shrinkage. Orfit engineers have interwoven a natural material (nano clay) in the inner layers of the thermoplastic material, which resulted in a substantial improvement of its mechanical properties. Thermoplastics will shrink when they cool on the patient during the mask making process and therefore have an impact on comfort, in particular when the volume of the patient tends to increase in the course of treatment. In this context, the reduction of shrinkage by means of NANOR® is an important step forward as it provides the degree of comfort required to minimize patient movement during the delivery of the dose.
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Sep 7, 2016
How It Works – DARPA’s Amazing LiquidPiston X Engine!
Posted by Karen Hurst in categories: computing, mobile phones
A LiquidPiston X engine.
DARPA made this dream a reality, as they have succeeded in manufacturing an engine of just 1.8 kilograms with dimensions of a 5-inch smartphone, but the most attractive of all is the fact that you do not need pistons or oil for operation.
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Sep 7, 2016
Google’s Quantum Computer May be Superior to Conventional Computers by 2018
Posted by Karen Hurst in categories: computing, quantum physics
Insiders indicate that Google may be nearing its goal of “quantum supremacy,” creating a computer that can outperform classical computers (at least in some tasks) by the end of next year.
If there’s one thing that’s painfully clear, its that classical computing tech is nearing its limit. Many have predicted the end of Moore’s law, and they are looking at the next step in the computing world: quantum computers.
And new reports assert that we may be on the verge of a breakthrough.
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Sep 7, 2016
Quantum Physics Proves That Death Is An Illusion
Posted by Karen Hurst in categories: habitats, quantum physics
https://youtube.com/watch?v=DfPeprQ7oGc
Hmmm; a walk on the bizarre side.
Home / knowledge / world truth / quantum physics proves that death is an illusion.
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Sep 7, 2016
Scientists need your help to build a quantum computer
Posted by Karen Hurst in categories: computing, entertainment, quantum physics
If anyone is interested in being part of computing history; do we have a program for you. Called the “The Alice Experiment”; this experiment will soon be open to the public, where you can take part in the quantum physics experiment simply by playing an online video game.
If you have always dreamed of helping out with a quantum physics experiment, now is you chance. And all you need to do is play a video game.
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Sep 7, 2016
Quantum Computing: Artificial Intelligence Is Here
Posted by Karen Hurst in categories: computing, quantum physics, robotics/AI
Geordie’s perspective of AI on QC…
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