TSRI scientists discover sub-region in the brain that works to form contextual fear memory

Posted on December 9, 2016 by

While the romantic poets' idea of memories being akin to spirits may have poetic merit, the scientists' perspective is that memories are concrete, physical entities that can be visualized within various regions of the brain. Sathyanarayanan V. Puthanveettil is an associate professor on the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute. (Photo by James McEntee.) Scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have now for the first time identified a sub-region...

PENN STATE University Research – Oxygen can wake up dormant bacteria for antibiotic attacks

Posted on December 8, 2016 by

Bacterial resistance does not come just through adaptation to antibiotics, sometimes the bacteria simply go to sleep. An international team of researchers is looking at compounds that attack bacteria's ability to go dormant and have found the first oxygen-sensitive toxin antitoxin system. "Antibiotics can only kill bacteria when they are actively growing and dividing," said Thomas K. Wood, professor of chemical engineering and holder of the Biotechnology Endowed Chair, Penn State. "But, envir...

STMicroelectronics and WiTricity to develop integrated circuits for resonant wireless power transfer

Posted on December 8, 2016 by

STMicroelectronics, a global semiconductor developer serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, and WiTricity, the industry pioneer in wireless power transfer over distance, announced their design collaboration to develop semiconductor solutions for magnetic-resonance-based wireless power transfer. The goal is to “cut the last cord,” bringing convenience to the powering and charging of consumer electronics, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, as well as medical, industrial ...

How Ear Works And How Hearing Aid Help

Posted on December 8, 2016December 8, 2016 by

Having trouble hearing? Over 35 million children and adults in the United States have some degree of hearing loss. Hearing loss can have a negative effect on communication, relationships, school/work performance, and emotional well-being. However, hearing loss doesn't have to restrict your daily activities. Properly fitted hearing aids and aural rehabilitation (techniques used to identify and diagnose hearing loss, and implement therapies for patients who are hard of hearing, including using amp...

MIT research on neural control of bionic prostheses will allow users to dynamically adapt their gait to changing terrains.

Posted on December 8, 2016 by

Proportional EMG Control of Ankle Plantar Flexion in a Powered Transtibial Prosthesis The human calf muscle generates 80% of the mechanical work to walk throughout stance-phase, powered plantar flexion. Powered plantar flexion is not only important for walking energetics, but also to minimize the impact on the leading leg at heel-strike. For unilateral transtibial amputees, it has recently been shown that knee load on the leading, intact limb decreases as powered plantar flexion in the traili...

X-ray technique at Berkeley Lab provides high-res views of the structure and movement of genetic material in cell nuclei

Posted on December 7, 2016 by

Scientists have mapped the reorganization of genetic material that takes place when a stem cell matures into a nerve cell. Detailed 3-D visualizations show an unexpected connectivity in the genetic material in a cell’s nucleus, and provide a new understanding of a cell’s evolving architecture. These unique 3-D reconstructions of mouse olfactory cells, which govern the sense of smell, were obtained using X-ray imaging tools at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (B...

Researchers have developed a specialized type of glowing metal organic framework that is designed to detect and remove heavy-metal toxins from water.

Posted on December 7, 2016 by

Tiny, glowing crystals designed to detect and capture heavy-metal toxins such as lead and mercury could prove to be a powerful new tool in locating and cleaning up contaminated water sources. Motivated by publicized cases in which high levels of heavy metals were found in drinking water in Flint, Mich., and Newark, N.J., a science team led by researchers at Rutgers University used intense X-rays at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) to probe the structure of the crystals the...

Ultra-low noise and ultra-low power consumption AMR sensor provides exceptional stability for demanding industrial and drone applications

Posted on December 7, 2016December 7, 2016 by

MEMSIC, a leading solutions provider combining proprietary MEMS technology with advanced mixed-signal processing and systems solutions, announced the availability of the MMC5883MA 3 Axis Magnetic Sensor. The newest member of MEMSIC’s Anisotropic Magneto Resistive (AMR) based Magnetic Sensor family, it provides the industry’s highest accuracy, lowest noise and lowest power consumption, all combined in an industry standard small LGA package and addresses the ever-increasing demands of industrial a...

IBM’s Dr. Tanveer Syeda-Mahmood has developed Watson modules for doctors aimed at improving the accuracy of diagnoses for stroke, mammography, radiology and cancer, previously un-diagnosed by human inspection.

Posted on December 6, 2016December 6, 2016 by

Watson has identified cases of heat disease previously undiagnosed by human inspection of ultra-sonic imaging, clinical tests and case notes, according to IBM at the Conference on Medical Image Computer Assisted Intervention (MICCAI). As a result, IBM is offering five new Watson modules to doctors aimed at improving the accuracy of diagnoses for stroke, mammography, radiology and cancer. IBM Watson is a cognitive system (computer) enabling a new partnership between people and computers. It tu...

Research team from Autodesk and Dartmouth College has developed a new interactive design tool called “Printone,” which provides users with the ability to create functional 3-D printed wind instruments in any shape or form using interactive sound simulation feedback.

Posted on December 6, 2016 by

A research team from Autodesk and Dartmouth College has developed a new interactive design tool called "Printone," which provides users with the ability to create functional 3-D printed wind instruments in any shape or form using interactive sound simulation feedback. The team designed 16 free-form wind instruments to play different melodies, including: a star that can play "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star," a bunny that can play "Little Peter Rabbit;" a snowman that can play "Jingle Bells;" and a...

University of Tokyo researchers have found that when embedded a male sex gene into the genome of female silkworms it developed male reproductive glands and started producing sperm.

Posted on December 6, 2016 by

A group of University of Tokyo researchers and their collaborators embedded a male sex gene into the genome of female silkworms and found that they developed male reproductive glands and started producing sperm, as well as displaying other male characteristics. This finding may eventually lead to the development of pesticides targeting the Masc gene, considered the determinant of maleness in silkworms, and help pave the way for controlling agricultural pests through the sterilization of moths. ...

NaviPack navigation module for autonomous control of drones, robots, and other devices

Posted on December 6, 2016December 6, 2016 by

NaviPack has announced the release of a LiDAR navigation module for autonomous control of drones, robots, and other devices. The NaviPack system is being introduced via its Indiegogo page. The NaviPack module features a built-in Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) algorithm chip. By integrating the control chip and LiDAR together, NaviPack becomes a true plug-and-play LiDAR solution that instantly powers drones and robots with 360 degree sensing capabilities, reducing integration tim...

New study of water-saving plants advances efforts to develop drought-resistant crops

Posted on December 5, 2016 by

As part of an effort to develop drought-resistant food and bioenergy crops, scientists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have uncovered the genetic and metabolic mechanisms that allow certain plants to conserve water and thrive in semi-arid climates. Semi-arid plants such as agave have adapted to survive in areas with little rainfall by developing a specialized mode of photosynthesis called crassulacean acid metabolism, or CAM. Unlike plants in wetter environments, C...

Northwest University Research – Perils of Too Much Relaxation in Assisted Living

Posted on December 5, 2016 by

You wake up and someone makes you breakfast. You attend a lecture, eat lunch and enjoy a book club meeting, then eat dinner with friends, and finish the night with a movie before heading to bed. While this lifestyle sounds convenient and relaxing, it may be what is killing older adults in assisted living communities. The Good and the Bad of Assisted Living More than 735,000 older adults nationwide live in assisted living communities. These communities promote a hassle-free and accessible liv...

Mice can sense oxygen levels in the environment using specialized neurons in their noses that are present in the olfactory mucosa

Posted on December 5, 2016 by

The genome of mice harbours more than 1000 odorant receptor genes, which enable them to smell myriad odours in their surroundings. Researchers at the Max Planck Research Unit for Neurogenetics in Frankfurt, the University of Saarland in Homburg, the University of Cambridge and the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm have discovered that mice can also sense the oxygen level of the inhaled air using neurons in their nose. For this newly discovered sensory property, mice rely on two genes termed Gucy...

Max Planck Research Suggests Individual lifespans are becoming more similar

Posted on December 5, 2016 by

Scientists discover a novel regularity for vastly different human societies and epochs On average, as lives get longer, the difference in the age at which people die becomes smaller. By analyzing data from 44 countries, researchers have now proven that life expectancy and the variation of individual lifespans are tightly bound together by a mathematical relationship. If life expectancy decreases in times of crisis, then, according to the same mathematical logic, the distribution of the leng...

Life Advice From Leaders

Posted on December 4, 2016 by

Bill Gates - six of his best pieces of wisdom https://youtu.be/A_-4cByHOew Don’t make the same decision twice... On making decisions about your business, Gates advises people to take their time. Consider the issue from every angle and make sure whatever choice you make is the right one for your business. You don’t want to be wasting time coming back and having to change your original decision. “If you're too willing to reopen issues, it interferes not only with your execution b...

Research on correlation of Money & Happiness

Posted on December 4, 2016 by

In contrast to decades of research reporting surprisingly weak relationships between consumption and happiness, recent findings suggest that money can indeed increase happiness if it is spent the “right way” (e.g., on experiences or on other people). Drawing on the concept of psychological fit, we extend this research by arguing that individual differences play a central role in determining the “right” type of spending to increase well-being. In a field study using more than 76,000 bank-trans...

Staying Positive – Daily habits of behavior and thought processes have the ability to alter the architecture of brain structure and connectivity

Posted on December 4, 2016 by

Neuroscientists recently made a correlation between an increase of alpha brain waves—either through electrical stimulation or mindfulness and meditation—and the ability to reduce depressive symptoms and increase creative thinking. Our various states of consciousness are directly connected to the ever-changing electrical, chemical, and architectural environment of the brain. Daily habits of behavior and thought processes have the ability to alter the architecture of brain structure and connect...

Israeli company Urban Aeronautics completed a test flight for a robotic autonomous flying air ambulance.

Posted on December 4, 2016 by

Urban Aeronautics has announced that its Cormorant Unmanned Air vehicle (UAV) prototype has performed its first autonomous pattern flight including low flight over uneven terrain. Urban Aeronautics AirMule, formerly Air Mule or Mule, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) codename Pereira (shapiyriyt; שפירית‎ Shafririt )(Dragonfly), is an unmanned flying car UAS designed by Rafi Yoeli and built by Tactical Robotics LTD., a subsidiary of Urban Aeronautics LTD. in Yavne, Israel. It will be used in sear...

UK’s Cambridge Consultant Axsis technology has developed a surgical robot that can perform cataract eye surgery

Posted on December 3, 2016December 3, 2016 by

Cambridge Consultants, a UK-based product design firm, is showing off a highly dextrous robotic surgical system that it developed. The Axsis robot was created to overcome the limitations of existing surgical robots. Miniaturising robotics design Axsis technology heralds the next wave of surgical robotics innovation Propelling surgical innovation to the next stage, product design and development firm Cambridge Consultants is showcasing Axsis – one of the smallest known robots for surgica...

Blub Keo is a USB powered nixie tube clock which displays the time using sequential digits which are illuminated through ionized neon gas.

Posted on December 3, 2016 by

Blub Keo is a USB powered nixie tube clock which displays the time using sequential digits which are illuminated through ionized neon gas. A blend of solid machined aluminium, stainless steel, hand formed glass and neon, Keo is a delicate fusion of art, design and engineering. With a warm orange glow reminiscent of a vintage amplifier valve, Blub Keo's display features a hand formed glass 'bulb' in which a series of very fine stainless steel numerals are arranged in a stack and illuminated one a...

MIT Media Lab’s Biomechatronics group develops Bionic ankle-foot prosthesis that normalizes walking gait for persons with leg amputation

Posted on December 3, 2016 by

Biomechatronics Group at MIT Media Lab's mission is two fold. First, seek to restore function to individuals who have impaired mobility due to trauma or disease through research and development. Second, develop technologies that augment human performance beyond what nature intends. These objectives are met by combining the scientific discipline of organismal and cellular neuromechanics with the technological discipline of bionic device design. Our research staff and students include biomecha...

BRAIN (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies) White House’s Initiative

Posted on December 3, 2016 by

BRAIN (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies) White House's Initiative® – a bold, new initiative focused on revolutionizing our understanding of the human brain. The BRAIN Initiative is one of the Administration’s “Grand Challenges” – ambitious but achievable goals that require advances in science and technology. Since the President announced the BRAIN Initiative, dozens of leading technology firms, academic institutions, scientists, and other key contributors to the f...

Cornell University’s research suggests being positive amid daily stress is good for long-term health

Posted on December 2, 2016 by

Relax. Breathe. It’s all small stuff. When faced with life’s daily challenges, adults who don’t maintain a positive outlook have shown elevated physiological markers for inflaming cardiovascular and autoimmune disease, according to new research by Cornell University and Penn State psychologists. “Hassles and minor frustrations are common in day-to-day living. Our findings suggest that how people react to daily stressors may matter more … than the frequency of such stressors,” explain the rese...

‘iBreastExam’ – Portable Device For Breast Scan

Posted on December 2, 2016 by

iBreastExam™ (or iBE) is a game-changing technological breakthrough for countries and regions with rising incidence of breast cancer, most cases presenting at late stages and limited to no access to early detection for most women. iBreastExam™ harnesses the power of innovative sensor technology, software computing and mobile revolution, such that a doctor or any health-worker can offer objective and effective breast examinations, with ease and comfort. The test is painless and radiation free,...

MIT’s research on Fluid Interface

Posted on December 2, 2016 by

Reality Editor is a new kind of tool for empowering you to connect and manipulate the functionality of physical objects. Just point the camera of your smartphone at an object built with the Open Hybrid platform and its invisible capabilities will become visible for you to edit. Drag a virtual line from one object to another and create a new relationship between these objects. With this simplicity, you are able to master the entire scope of connected objects. https://youtu.be/oC9qNe8Bwck Th...

NASA’s research on Nano and Micro Fabrication Process Modeling

Posted on December 2, 2016December 2, 2016 by

Development of manufacturable technologies for nanoelectronics and MEMS devices for advanced computing and sensing applications presents significant challenges. Modeling and simulation of the fabrication processes, extensively used by the microelectronics industry, offer significant advantage in meeting these challenges. BenefitExisting technologies, while mature for microelectronics fabrication, need further development in order to meet reliability, repeatability and yield requirements. Ma...

NASA and International team’s research shows, as CO2 levels are rising earth is getting greener.

Posted on December 1, 2016 by

From a quarter to half of Earth’s vegetated lands has shown significant greening over the last 35 years largely due to rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide. An international team of 32 authors from 24 institutions in eight countries led the effort, which involved using satellite data from NASA’s Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer instruments to help determine the leaf area index, or...

Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed and tested a self-regulating drug eluting patch that monitors and releases appropriate amounts of medicine.

Posted on December 1, 2016 by

Biomedical engineering researchers at North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have developed a technique that uses a patch embedded with microneedles to deliver cancer immunotherapy treatment directly to the site of melanoma skin cancer. In animal studies, the technique more effectively targeted melanoma than other immunotherapy treatments. According to the CDC, more than 67,000 people in the United States were diagnosed with melanoma in 2012 alone ...