UAE Looks at Nanotechnology in Food Industry
Monday, May 31st, 2010
The Food Safety and Animal Health Division of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) in UAE is getting interested in the potential and dangers of nanotechnology in food. Nanotech had promised fantastic things in the food sector, among other sectors. For example, claims were being made that using a process similar to microwave cooking, the technology can convert a tasteless and colorless drink into one tasting like coke, fruit juice or ginger beer, depending on the preference of the user.
Nanotechnology can change not only the taste but also the nutritional value and other properties of food, according to these claims. However, the claims are muted now as people began to look at possible dangers. Nanotech works at the levels of a billionth of a meter and nanomaterials can permeate human cells. Who knows what it can do to our DNA?
The potential of nanotechnology is not doubted. It can affect every stage of the food industry from production to final sale to consumers, according to a report published by a Canadian technology watchdog. However, experts are also becoming aware of potential dangers. Cosmetics using nanomaterials have entered human bloodstream and the cosmetic industry is observing a self-imposed ban on using such materials.
A study at University of California (UCLA) School of Public Health study indicated that the nanomaterial, nano-titanium dioxide, was damaging the DNA of mice. These and other developments have raised concerns about the safety aspects of nanotechnology. The UAE government has decided to keep a close watch on the emerging findings.
Read more at Khaleej Times
Posted in nanoethics, nanomaterials | 1 Comment »
Energy Efficiency Using a Wasted Property of Electrons
Friday, May 28th, 2010
Electrical energy is presently obtained by utilizing the difference between positively and negatively charged electrons. Electrons have a third property, their spin, or a small magnetic field pointing up or down. This property is not used currently by electrical devices because the devices are too big compared to the nanoscale electrons.
A researcher in Israel is focusing on using the spin information to create energy efficient batteries and to prevent the huge quantities of power that we lose while transmitting electricity through conventional wires. Superconductors can prevent such energy loss; but technology now requires super cool temperatures for superconductors to work. Researchers are hoping that using nanotechnology, they might be able to develop superconducting materials that work at room temperatures.
Today’s solid state disk drives manage to use ordered atoms packed together. When atoms in a material are arranged in an ordered fashion, properties of the material change. Working at nanoscale, it is theoretically possible to design materials with customized properties.
Working at nanoscale is no simple matter, however. A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter and you need highly advanced tools like Scanning Electron Microscope to find what is happening at this scale. The Israel research facility has just been equipped with equipment like a Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry, Scanning Electron Microscope and Environmental Scanning Microscope.
Using these advanced facilities, researchers hope to understand how maerial properties change at nanoscale and other issues involved. Read the report at Israel21c.
Tags: energy efficiency, nanotechnology, spin property of electrons, spintronics
Posted in energy generation, energy storage, nano batteries, nanomaterials, nanotechnology | No Comments »
A Vaccine for Trauma!
Monday, May 24th, 2010
When we think of vaccines, we think of physical illnesses that can be immunized against. Vaccines for trauma? That is something likely to sound strange to most of us. Yet it is something that is being suggested as an early intervention for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to reduce the incidence of flashbacks, a distressing and hallmark symptom of the disorder.
Findings of cognitive science suggest that the human brain can cope with only so many tasks. The science also suggests that memory consolidation takes place within a period of six hours.
A cognitive intervention within six hours of witnessing a traumatic event should prevent the occurrence of flashbacks, based on the above findings. If the cognitive faculties involved in flashbacks can be directed to another activity during the memory consolidation period, the memory can be prevented from consolidating, according to theory.
PTSD flashbacks are images with sensory-perceptual and visuospatial characteristics. Visuospatial computer games such as Tetris involve using the same faculties and it was suggested that playing such a game within half an hour after witnessing a traumatic event will reduce flashbacks. That is the basic theory behind “cognitive vaccine.”
Read about a relevant experiment to test the theory and its conclusions at PLoS ONE.
Tags: cognitive science, cognitive vaccine, PTSD, using brain characteristics
Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
The Digital Divide can lead to no Good
Sunday, May 23rd, 2010
Digital divide is a term used to signify the difference between different sections of people, or countries, in their ability to use modern digital technologies such as the computer, mobile phone and the Internet. Poor countries are more concerned with basics such as food and healthcare and they are not able to attend to “luxuries” like IT literacy. Even in developed countries, certain sections of the population are digitally illiterate and this leads to a digital divide between different sections.
What are the problems of digital divide? The major problem is that the digitally illiterate people are denied access to knowledge and information that are available to the digitally proficient. Lack of access to knowledge and information leads to missed opportunities for education and earning. The result will be an aggravation of existing wealth disparities.
The world’s, and individual countries’, economic development depends in a major way on the distribution of wealth. If people don’t have purchasing power, there will be no buyers for most of the goods and services produced; production of goods and services will not expand and the economy will stagnate. Purchasing power is created by distributing the wealth of the country as widely as possible.
There is also the issue that high inequality of wealth can lead to civil unrest and wastage of human resources. The world cannot hope to achieve stability so long as large sections of it are underdeveloped.
The issue is complicated by the fact that earth’s existing resources cannot support a living standard that is similar to the living standards in developed nations for all the world’s people.
Digital divide thus have implications beyond just an inability to use computers and the mobile phone. Projects such as Evoke are seeking to spread digital literacy in African countries that are seriously affected by the divide.
Tags: digital divide, economic progress, information technology, social tensions
Posted in education delivery, information delivery, information technology, sustainable development | No Comments »
Nanotechnology Resource for Developing Nations
Saturday, May 22nd, 2010
Nanotechnology.Zunia.org is one component of the knowledge exchange databases created by Zunia.org, which itself is part of Development Gateway, a project that works for more effective use of international aid and in other areas that benefit developing countries.
The nanotechnology database discusses emerging applications in the area of nanotechnology so that developing nations can also participate in developing and benefiting from these. The following post at the website illustrates the type of applications you will find discussed there.
Nanotechnology works at nanoscale, which means atomic and molecular levels. Working at these levels, it becomes possible to create new materials and change the properties of existing materials. One material that has important applications is electrically conductive composite materials that will also stretch and bend.
Smart clothing, flexible displays, stretchable circuits, implantable devices and actuators are some of the products that will find a stretchable and conductive material of high value. Carbon nanotubes, a nanomaterial, have superb conductivity. By creating a composite of elastic polymers and carbon nanotubes, it is considered possible to deliver a solution that these products can use.
Read the post at nanotechnology.zunia.org.
Tags: nanomaterials, nanotechnology
Posted in nanomaterials, nanotechnology | 2 Comments »
Grant for Biotech Startups Engaged in Drug Discovery Related Work
Friday, May 21st, 2010
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act 2010 enacted recently in the US provides a significant incentive for startup biotech firms working in drug disctovery related projects. They can avail a 50 percent tax credit for investments in qualified activities during 2009 and 2010. Of more significance is the option to get the same amount tax free because startups might not be paying any income tax and tax credits do not provide them any immediate return.
Tax credit or grant is available for research and developments costs that fall under the term “qualified investments” in qualifying therapeutic discovery projects. These include “the aggregate amount of costs paid or incurred in the taxable year for expenses necessary for and directly related to the conduct of a qualifying therapeutic discovery project.” It is available only to entities that altogether employ not more than 250 employees.
A small biotech project in a large pharmaceutical firm will thus not qualify. Also excluded are salaries of certain employees identified in Section 162 (m)(3) fo the Act, such as highly compensated chief executive officers. Interest costs, facility maintenance costs and general and administrative expenses will also not qualify.
Therapeutic discovery projects that qualify are those that work on:
- treating or preventing diseases or conditions by conducting preclinical studies or clinical trials or carrying out research protocols for the purpose of securing approval from the Food and Drug Administration; or
- diagnosing diseases or conditions or to determine molecular factors relating to diseases or conditions by developing molecular diagnostics to guide therapeutic decisions.
Read the full report at BiotechBlog.
Tags: biotechnology, business grant, drug discovery, fda approval
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Information Technology Helps Egypt Economy
Thursday, May 20th, 2010
In the first quarter of 2010, Egypt saw a growth of 11.3 percent in its Information & Communication Technology (ICT) sector. This sectoral growth helped Egypt achieve an overall 5.8 percent economic growth during the quarter, the fastest growth in almost two years. The economy is expected to grow by 5.3 percent for the fiscal year ending June this year, compared to 4.7 percent the previous fiscal year.
The country is a major Middle East destination for outsourced IT work, and companies like Sykes Enterprises and Stream Global Services have invested in a major way in Egypt. The country’s IT industry development agency, Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Intel Corporation to use Intel’s technical expertise to develop products and technical solutions.
According to the CEO of ITIDA, the year 2010 had started with significant investments from new companies and with local companies developing and expanding their capabilities and services. He felt confident that more multinational companies will invest in and outsource operations to Egypt.
The country invests in infrastructure, intellectual property protection and piracy prevention, all major concerns in the IT sector. Egypt’s piracy rate remained unchanged while globally it was increasing. According the ITIDA CEO, the rate is lower than in some other outsourcing destinations.
Read the report at Zawya.com.
Tags: Egyptian economy, information technology, outsourcing
Posted in business, information technology, intellectual property, outsourcing | No Comments »
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)
Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
The New Delhi, India headquartered TERI’s stated objective is to deal with the huge problems that humankind is likely to face owing to (i) Depletion of earth’s non-renewable energy resources and (ii) Pollution caused by existing ways of using the energy resources.
Over the years since its establishment in 1974, TERI’s objectives have got enhanced to cover environment and sustainable development. TERI also expanded its operations to North America, Europe and several countries in Asia including Japan, Malaysia and Gulf countries. The Delhi Sustainable Development Summit (DSDS) is an annual event that focuses on sustainable development while pursuing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
DSDS was successful in attracting leaders from government, industry, research and academia and civil society. Buoyed by its success, TERI has now established the World Sustainable Development Forum (WSDF). WSDF will seek to carry the DSDS message to other countries of the world and to evaluate worldwide developments towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals.
The TERI University established in 1998 is a research-oriented institution of higher learning with programs leading to Masters and PhD level degrees.
TERI’s research projects extend over several areas, including Energy-Environment Policy and Technology Development, Environmental and Industrial Biotechnology, Regulatory Studies and Governance, Resources and Global Security, Social Transformation, Sustainable Development Outreach and more.
Read more at the TERI website.
Tags: depletion of energy resources, pollution from energy use practices, sustainable development
Posted in energy generation, environment, renewable energy, sustainable development | No Comments »
Cloud Computing with iPad: the Cetrom Example
Tuesday, May 18th, 2010
A press release from Cetrom Information Technology shows how the company has met customer expectations quickly. The company is an Application Services Provider providing many applications including Microsoft Office and QuickBooks under the Software as a Service (SaaS) model. SaaS falls under the category of cloud computing that also covers providing IT infrastructure, computing platforms and data storage space on an “as needed” basis from the Internet cloud.
Many of Cetrom’s customers are among the group of avid fans that Apple manages to create for all their new releases. And these fans were delighted to find that they could continue to use many of the cloud computing applications from the new Apple iPad. Cetrom’s business owner customers could thus evaluate business applications immediately on the iPad.
Apple iPad sales are expected to be in the range of five to ten million units by the end of 2010 and this large user base will need a wide range of applications that will work on the device. Developers have already started working on applications that will work on iPad. It is in this context that Cetrom’s service becomes significant.
By making cloud computing applications accessible “anyhow” (through the iPad in this case), in addition to anywhere and anytime, Cetrom has shown how companies can respond to customers quickly. The iPad was released only last month. Read their news release at EarthTimes
Tags: business, cloud computing, information technology, meeting customer expectations
Posted in business, cloud computing, information technology | 2 Comments »
Encouraging Biotech Research Students
Monday, May 17th, 2010
The University of Waikato in New Zealand recently held a poster contest for biotech student researchers. The theme of the contest was sustainable bioeconomy, indicating the importance attached both to sustainability as well as economic significance of the research programs.
The first prize winner was Ho Ying Yuen who was researching combining polymer with beeswax to use as a controlled release for drug delivery in animals. Pratik Trivedi was another winner who focused on researching the ageing of white bryony plant seeds. The plant is a hardy environmental weed whose seeds can lie dormant in the ground for a long time.
Both the above prize winners are students of Waikato University while another winner, Jamaine Fraser, works at Scion in Rotorua. She researched the design of marae seating using engineered biocomposite plastic.
There were 24 competitors whose research areas ranged from developing bioplastics to ageing wine. One of them had recently won an award at NZBio for his research into micro-organisms that could open the way to a sustainable way of turning woody waste into biofuel. His poster was about a “Wood Digesting Machine.”
Professor Doug Sutton, Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University, opened the event by saying a key challenge in moving to a bioeconomy was to ensure that biotechnology developments were sustainable, taking into account economic, environmental, ethical/social and cultural perspectives.
Read the full report at Waikato University website.
Tags: bioeconomy, biotechnology, sustainable development
Posted in biotechnology, sustainable development | No Comments »
