Doctor blade for screen printing

In screen printing, flexible doctor blades are used for distributing the printing inks. They must be able to withstand a wide variety of stresses and strains and must also have good swelling resistance in contact with the ink solvents used in the printing industry. This is no problem for Vulkollan®, because it is free of fillers and plasticizers – a factor that contributes to its good chemical resistance.

With long printing runs, it is essential that the quality of the prints remains consistently good from beginning to end. Since the edges of the blades are subjected to considerable wear and tear, it must have very high dimensional stability. The high shear modulus of Vulkollan® and its low permanent deformation are key factors when it comes to ensuring consistent print results. In addition, the quality of the fabrics is rising all the time, increasing the strain on the blade material. Vulkollan's® high mechanical resistance ensures a long service life and considerably minimizes the work involved in subsequent sharpening.

This superior combination of properties – namely high mechanical strength and excellent chemical resistance – guarantees an extremely long service life even when the doctor blades are subjected to extreme conditions.

Sensor elements

To track down any corrosion damage or cracks in oil and gas pipelines, the workers use UCSD "go-devils" equipped with Baytec P sensor strips. Because Baytec P has such high elasticity, the sensor elements can always stick close to the pipe wall, even when they pass over pipe bends or travel through narrow cross-sections, thus minimizing measuring errors.
Other specifications made on the elastomer are particularly high resistance to wear and tear and outstanding swelling resistance.

Protective strip for snowplough

An elastic strip made of Baytec P on the front of a snow-clearing machine has enormous advantages. It is easy to install and, because it is so hard-wearing, it lasts for several winters.
Apart from this, it remains highly flexible even at sub-zero temperatures, preventing damage to the roads. The outstanding resilience of Baytec P means that the protective strip will spring back from any obstacle it hits and thus prevent damage to the vehicle. With all these advantages, the snowplough can work fast without fear of being damaged

Device for light therapy

A light therapy device that specifically activates the self-healing forces, relieves the organism and triggers regenerative processes has been developed by Bioptron AG in Mönchaltorf, Switzerland. The Bioptron 2 model works by encouraging cell activation, known as biostimulation of the cell. The housing of this device is manufactured by emaform AG, which is based in the Swiss town of Gontenschwil. The company uses the Baydur® 60 polyurethane integral skin foam system, developed by Bayer MaterialScience AG primarily for the production of technical housings.

On the look-out for a lightweight, tough and rigid material which would reproduce the complex design of the light therapy device perfectly, the choice fell on Baydur® 60. Because with its excellent flow properties, this polyurethane system has proved its suitability even for the production of large moldings with complex geometries. Thanks to its mold reproduction accuracy, finely detailed textures can also be rendered.

Another argument for integral skin foam system from BaySystems is that it forms a solid outer layer which, together with a two-pack polyurethane coating, produces a highly-resistant, easy-care surface.

Baydur® 60 also delivers the goods as far as economics are concerned. The parts can be made with inexpensive aluminum molds because the internal pressure generated in the mold is particularly low. Apart from this, the integral skin foam can easily be combined with other materials, which means, for example, that thread inserts can be pre- positioned in the mold and molded in place, considerably simplifying subsequent fabrication.

Helios movie projector

A cabinet can be far more than a handy, light and robust case. This has been proved by the Helios video projector and its sophisticated exterior made of Baydur® polyurethanes from BaySystems®. Available in a variety of colors, it is perfectly at home in its environment, whether at conferences or presentations.

The Helios digital video projector from the Italian company Vidikron Industries S.p.A. has a special visual appeal in more than one sense. The highly sophisticated electronics packed inside the set are protected by a cabinet manufactured by 2a.effe of Lissone, Italy, using polyurethanes Baydur® 60 and Baydur® 110 from BaySystems®. In addition to offering a perfect combination of design and functionality, these two materials also provide a number of structural benefits, including an excellent surface finish that is ideal for high-grade coatings and gives the projector a distinctively elegant appearance

polyurethane that hits the right note

Whether it's a matter of achieving a pleasant sound quality in a refurbished concert hall, or adhering to noise control guidelines in an industrial plant, experts are always needed to investigate the acoustics of these premises using sensitive microphones and no less sensitive, although frequently bulky, test sound sources. The Brüel & Kjaer company of Naerum, Denmark, has developed a precision sound source for acoustic measurements that eliminates many of the problems associated with conventional sound emitters. The slim housing of the device, manufactured by Dupont plastic ApS, Hjortshoj, Denmark, is made of castable Baydur® GS from BaySystems®. This wear-resistant material offers the design freedom needed for a high-tech product, guarantees exceptional dimensional stability and can also be processed cost-effectively even in small-scale production.

H-Bridge for Robots with High Current DC Motors

DC Motors which need high current and high voltage usually give high velocity and high torque. For small robots like line follower robot or fire fighting robot, I think IC motor driver L298 (up to 2A total current) is better choice. While for large and heavy robot, you need high current DC motors also H-Bridge suit to your DC motor.

This article sould be useful for you to build high current H-Bridge. H-Bridge schematics provided…

============================

The H-Bridge is the link between digital circuitry and mechanical action. The computer sends out binary commands, and high powered actuators do stuff. Most often H-bridges are used to control rotational direction of DC motors. And unless you buy a potentially expensive motor-driver, you need an H-bridge to control any robot with a motor.

This is a quickly sketched H-Bridge circuit with supporting circuitry.
H-Bridge

First lets talk about what a transistor is. These nifty chips revolutionized the electronics industry and you would be hardpressed to find something electronic that does not have at least a few thousand of these in them. So what do they do? They can control a flow of electrons by applying a voltage to them. The plumbing equivalent would be a water valve. By rotating the valve, a very large flow of water can easily be controlled.

MOSFET, Transistor
There are several types of transistors, such as the PNP and NPN, but for sake of making your life easy I will only talk about a MOSFET (Metal-Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor). These neat things have only been around for a decade or two, but are way better than the more traditional transistor. First they are more efficient. They are easier to calculate mathwise. Plus they usually have built in protection diodes so you don’t need to add them in later. They even have PWM (explained later) optimized MOSFET’s.

So to operate a MOSFET, you apply a voltage to the gate (from your microcontroller), and suddenly a current of electrons passes through the other two pins. Connect a motor (M) in line with one of the pins and your robot is set to go. In the above schematic you will notice the letters A and B. These are your two control lines which you apply this logic voltage to. Since you have two pins, and only a binary control, there are four possible things that can happen.

A=0 B=0 : Nothing happens, the motor is turned off
A=1 B=0 : Motor rotates clockwise
A=0 B=1 : Motor rotates counterclockwise
A=1 B=1 : Your circuit explodes into pretty sparks

Here is a ghetto visual graphic of the H-bridge logic chart:
H-Bridge A

H-Bridge B

So now lets talk about how to operate the MOSFET’s. Basically all you need to do is attach the gate to your digital output of your controller. When the digital output is turned on, 5V will be applied to the gate, turning the MOSFET on. However it is better to amplify that 5V to a value higher and I will explain why. The gate voltage controls the MOSFET internal resistance. Zero voltage makes the resistance too high for it to work. A very high voltage has a very low resistance. Resistance leads to loss of energy thermally. This means your MOSFET will heat up and possibly burn out. Take a look at the MOSFET picture above and you will notice my finger print in it. That is what happens when you touch a hot MOSFET - pain! So although you do not need to amplify the gate voltage, it is best to do so. You should also put a heat sink on it.

Square Wave for Pulse Width Modulation PWM
Ok so what if you want speed control, and not just an on/off switch? PWM! Pulse width modulation. PWM is when you send a square wave at a certain frequency to control the MOSFET as shown above. Basically you are telling your controller to turn on and off the motor at very high rates. So through inductance the motor is neither fully on or fully off, but somewhere in between. Such as at a slower speed. Also a note that motor torque, under PWM, remains the same whether fully on or only a percentage on. However, varying voltage for speed control reduces torque. So with PWM you have maximum torque yet slower speeds! You will have to experiment with wave length for both on and off periods, as well as frequency, to optimize your speed control. But a guess usually works.

Make sure the MOSFET you have has built in protection diodes. If not, install them on your circuit as shown. This is to prevent back currents from your DC motor. Also do not forget to put a small capacitor across the leads on your motor to reduce electronic noise and increase motor life. You might also want to refer to the tutorial on robot power regulation to help you design a better power source for your H-bridge.

It is also recommended to put a slow blow fuse after the power supply, resistors of a few 100 ohms on the gate logic, and the additional capacitors on your circuit as shown. This will prevent melting, large voltage surges, and high frequency emission.

Robots In CIS Applications

Robots have started receiving greater attention in medical/surgical applications. Tasks beyond human manipulation/precision capabilities are being trusted to assitant systems that only perform that small portion of the procedure, under human supervision. Despite intial skeptical response due to safety, and cost concerns the role of robots in surgery is likely to grow.

Surgical robots present an environment unlike most other applications where robots are applied. e.g. industrial plants. Mechanical components of surgical robots tend to be simpler, slower than their industrial counterparts, but the electronics, safety, and guidance systems are usually far more complex. A set of complex planning, guidance, and safety systems (often redundant) are involved in operating a surgical robot.

A team designing a surgical robot is faced with several difficulties. A complex system takes several years to develop, and development is often sequencial. E.g. The guidance system can not be tested until the hardware is available, and software developing and testing is highly dependent on availability of functioning hardware. Surgical robots are developed to deal with specific surgical procedures, and so each application results in the repetition of the design cycle.

A modular system allows software development to be independent of hardware design. It also allows existing modules to be used for new applications. It improves design clarity and testing and finally develops interfaces making interoperability between different systems easier.

There are several ways to develop modular/flexible software to control a robot: use/develop a programming language with all the facilities of object oriented design. But this would create yet another language, with a learning curve and user acceptance issues. An alternative approach is to develop interfaces, and implementations of the same in an acceptable programming language. This provides libraries that can be shared, swapped, and developed independently of each other. Furthermore, it allows the programming language to be changed, while preserving the interfaces (most programming languages provide ways of calling other language libraries, if need be).

The modular robot control(MRC) library is one such library. While the set of robots under consideration is mostly serial manipulators, the interface design can be easily extended to parallel architectures. The interface design is independent of the programming language, and the first implementation uses C++ classes. The library classes have a layered structure, each new Layer inheriting significant functionality from its parents.

This documentation is for the MRC library version 1.1 The class most commonly used by an application as an instantiable robot is the mrcRobot class and this should also be the base for all derived robot classes. Detailed implementation documentation exists separately.
s.

plasma arc

Some of the well-known global firms
are Westinghouse Plasma Corporation
(WPC), Integrated Environmental
Technologies (IET), The Solena Group
and Startech. Their proprietary plasma
gasification systems are described
below.
Westinghouse Plasma Corporation
(WPC). WPC’s proprietary
plasma gasification vitrification reactor
design (Fig. 5) combines a movingbed
gasifier with its industrial plasma
torch technology. WPC, in conjunction
with Alter Nrg (an engineering firm),
is able to provide full gasification
equipment, complete with feed handling,
slag removal and gas cooling
systems, for various applications. The
system engineering drawing is shown
in Fig. 6.
WPC has commercially operating/
under-installation facilities in Japan,
USA and India.
Japan. Hitachi Metals’s waste-toenergy
facility, located in Utashinai,
Japan, was constructed in 2002 and
has been operational since 2003. The
facility processes 200-280 tonnes/day
of a mixture of auto shredder residue
and municipal solid waste to produce
electricity.
A second facility, built near the
neighbouring cities of Mihama and Mikata,
Japan, was commissioned in 2002
to treat 20 tonnes per day of municipal
solid waste and four tonnes per day of
sewage sludge for production of heat
utilised in a municipal waste-water
treatment plant.
India. Two hazardous
waste disposal plants with
a capacity of 72 tonnes/
day and using WPC gasification
technology and
plasma torches to produce
electricity are under
construction in Pune and
Nagpur, by SMS Infrastructures,
India. When
operational, these are expected
to produce 5 megawatts
of electricity.
USA. One WTE facility
is at approval stage in
the US. When completed,
Geoplasma’s WTE plant in
Florida will be the largest
plasma gasification facility
in the world processing
up to 3000 tonnes per day
of municipal solid waste
and producing 120 MW of
electricity. The first phase will process
1500 tonnes per day and produce
60 MW of electricity, which is enough
to power 60,000 homes. The facility
is expected to become operational by
mid-2010.
Integrated Environmental Technologies
(IET). It uses a plasmaenhanced
melter (PEM) to transform
waste into highly stable glass-like
residues, recoverable metals and
hydrogen-enriched gas (Fig. 7). The
technology is unique in that it combines
three processes: plasma arc

using multiple graphite electrodes,
joule (resistance) heating using glass
melter technology and superheated
steam. This combination results in a
stable and highly controllable treatment
system.
The plasma operates at temperatures
from 3000°C to 10,000°C in an
oxygen-free environment with the
presence of superheated steam ensuring
that pyrolysis and steam reforming
reactions dominate. A high-efficiency
scrubber is used to remove volatile
metals and other pollutants from
the hydrogen-rich product gas (100
BTU/scf or more), a portion of which
may be recycled to provide power
to the PEM and
the other portion
used to generate
electricity.
Metals in the
waste are recovered.
The glassy
aggregate is also
recovered and
may be recycled
as road building,
blasting grit
or construction
material. Volume
reductions are up
to 98 per cent depending
on how
the process is run
and the composition of the waste.
IET is more interested in treating
radioactive, hazardous, industrial, municipal,
tire, incinerator ash and medical
waste streams. It has sold several
commercial PEM units throughout the
world to process a wide range of waste
materials. For details, visit ‘www.inentec.
com/commercial.html.’
The Solena Group. The Solena
Group, a strategic partner of Westinghouse,
uses the integrated plasma
gasification combined cycle (IPGCC).
It is a unique process that uses a
patented plasma gasification vitrification
(PGV) technology for conversion
of low-value fuels/feed stocks
(such as coal waste, petroleum coke,
bio-mass and different waste forms
including municipal solid waste)
into a low-heating-value synthesis or
syngas containing carbon monoxide
and hydrogen gases. This gas is then
employed as a primary fuel for a gas
turbine.
The IPGCC can also be viewed as
a two-stage processor of an opportunity
feedstock. The feedstock is first
gasified (partially oxidised) in a gasifier
using high-temperature plasma
heating systems at atmospheric
pressure. The gas is then cleaned and
combusted (completely oxidised) in
the gas turbine to produce electricity.
The PGV reactor, in essence, cleans
the solid/liquid and/or dirty fuels/
feed stocks by converting them into a
valuable byproduct fuel gas or syngas
to power a gas turbine.
The IPGCC system generally
consists of four separate processes:
feedstock handling, plasma gasification
and vitrification, gas cooling and
clean-up, and gas turbine combined
cycle.
The IPGCC system offers significant
advantages over standard IGCC.
By applying the PGV technology for
gasifying the feedstock, the plasma
heating system provides an independent
and extremely powerful heating
by the plasmagenerated
heat
and undergoes
partial oxidation
to be released as a
mixture of H2 and
CO. The syngas
has a heating value
of about onethird
to one-sixth
of natural gas. All
inorganic or nonh
y d r o c a r b o n -
based materials in
the feedstock are
simultaneously
vitrified into an
inert glassy slag,
suitable for use as
construction materials
including
aggregates, tiles
or bricks.

Live 3D Breadboard

Using the Live 3D Breadboard tool in TINA, you can automatically build a life-like 3D picture of a solderless breadboard (sometimes called a “whiteboard”). When you run TINA in interactive mode, components like switches, LEDs, instruments, etc. become “live” and will work on the virtual breadboard just as in reality. You can use this capability of TINA to prepare and document lab experiments.

You can either assemble the circuit step-by-step or by generating the whole circuit on the breadboard. Pick up and move parts on the breadboard using the mouse, and TINA will automatically rearrange the wiring while retaining connectivity. In the same fashion, you can select and move wires for clearer appearance. Note that you cannot change the endpoints of a wire this way–wiring integrity is preserved.

The breadboard tool is mostly intended for educational purposes to prepare laboratory experiments in a safe 3D environment. You can also use this breadboard to guide you in actually wiring a physical breadboard for lab verification.

Microsystems for Medical Technology

Social demand is the driving force for new developments in miniaturised medical technology. Well-informed patients have high requirements in terms of improving the quality and safety of their lives. That can be achieved by a marked miniaturisation of medical devices, instruments and sensors that ensure that patients have less traumatic operations or can benefit from mobile monitoring systems. Microsystem technology provides potentials that meet those new social and medical requirements to the point. Major applications of microsystems are, for example, intelligent implants, patient monitoring and minimally invasive technologIntelligent Implants

A very important field in medicine is the development of intelligent implants based on microsystems technology. The pacemaker is a wellknown example. The new generation of devices do no longer stimulate the heart by inflexible, constant impulses only, but collect data like heart rhythm and react self-sufficiently with variable adjustments. In this way, this therapy is becoming more flexible and physiological. Meanwhile these systems can absolutely hold their own on the market. Implanted defibrillators that stimulate the heart directly in case of cardiac arrest have also been developed. A strong electric impulse restores the heart function. These devices are also successfully being introduced into the market. The leading German supplier in that field is the company Biotronik GmbH & Co.

Patient monitoring

A second very interesting application for microsystems is the continuous monitoring of physiological patient data. Therefore sensor systems inside or outside the body are needed. Up to now only stand-alone solutions are available, that means data remain stored in the device. Examples for ambulant devices with limited storing potential are 24-hour-bloodpressure measurement or 72-hoursblood sugar measurement. Using miniaturised sensors future systems in domestic surroundings should measure continuously and precisely blood pressure, intraocular pressure, electrocardiogram (ECG), level of blood sugar or respiratory sounds. The collected data will be wireless transmitted to the physicians. In this application field German companies like Siemens AG Medical Solutions, Dräger Medizintechnik GmbH, Philips Medical Systems, Weinmann GmbH, Fresenius Medical Care AG und B. Braun Melsungen AG play an important role.

Minimally Invasive Technology

Minimal invasive operation techniques would be unthinkable without microsystems technology. In this field microsystems in terms of miniaturised mechanical and optical systems were introduced to the operating rooms already 15 years ago. German companies like KARL STORZ GmbH & Co. KG, AESCULAP AG & Co. KG und Richard Wolf GmbH are international leading players in this market with endoscopes and intelligent instruments. In future miniaturised instrument systems will be improved by sensors generating tactile feedback to the operating surgeon. Based on this tactile feedback, navigation systems can support the surgeon in planning and operating.

German medical technology is in a good position internationally

Internationally, German companies rank among the leading suppliers of microsystems in medical technology. They play an important part in the worldwide turnover in this market segment ( 12 billion in 2002) [1]. Microsystem technology is a key technology for the development of innovative medical products. Its great importance helps to strengthen the medical technology industry in Germany. In 2004 the total turnover of this industry sector was 18 billion Euros, employing 100,000 people in 1,200 companies [2]. Because of highly increasing exports, a turnover of 25 billion Euros is expected in 2010 [3]. "Made in Germany" is still a good reputation for medical products. The share of the turnover in foreign countries is almost 55% and it is expected to rise steadily until 2010 [4]. This underlines the international competitiveness of the German medical technology industry. With 38% of all exports, the EU states are the main customers of medical technology from Germany, followed by the US with 20% [4]. Two German companies belong to the worldwide top ten: Siemens Medical Systems ranks fifth and Fresenius Medical Care AG seventh [4].

Beside industry, national research institutes are a guarantee for success. More and more of them are combining R&D in microsystem technology with biomedical engineering. Wellknown representatives are IMTEK, Prof. Stieglitz, University of Freiburg, ITIV, Dr. Stork, University of Karlsruhe, IWE, Prof. Mokwa, RWTH of Aachen, and Fraunhofer IBMT, Prof. Fuhr, St. Ingbert. University hospitals like the Charité in Berlin, Erlangen- Nürnberg and others apply biomicrotechnologies for innovative solutions in diagnostics and therapy.

Future developments will imply new challenges The main challenge to be coped with in the field of microsystem technology is the connection of technological components with the biological surroundings. In future, top innovations can be achieved in the following applications:

* Enhancement of active implants by biocompatible coating
* Intelligent drug targeting according to data determined by microsystems
* Linking of data for complex diagnostics in an environment close to the patient without necessarily consulting a physician or going to hospital
* More complex and individual analysis of biological, chemical, pharmacological, toxicological and medical data .. Continuous advancement of imaging systems for instrument navigation and better acquisition of parameters relevant to therapy

Fingerprinting

What is a fingerprint?

Fingerprints are an early example of biometrics, the science of identifying individuals by their physical characteristics. There is no clear date at which fingerprinting was first used, some examples being from prehistory. However, some significant modern dates are as follows.

* 1880 - Dr Henry Faulds published his first paper on the subject in the scientific journal Nature in 1880. Returning to Britain in 1886, he offered the concept to the Metropolitan Police in London but was dismissed.
* 1901 - Sir Edward Richard Henry devised the Henry Classification System used in England and Wales.
* 1902 - Dr. Henry P. DeForrest used fingerprinting in the New York Civil Service.n

There is some controversy over the uniqueness of fingerprints. Even those who accept their uniqueness sometimes argue that the techniques used to compare fingerprints are fallible.

Fingerprint analysis (or Dactylography, a term mainly used in the US) is the science of using fingerprints to uniquely identify someone. Humans leave behind prints of the ridges of the skin on their fingertips when handling certain materials. The pattern of ridges is thought to be unique for each person and in practice has proved unique enough to identify the person who left the fingerprint.

Fingerprint analysis emerged in the early 20th century, when it was the first method in forensic science for unique identification. As a result of its early success, it acquired a mystique of infallibility. It has only recently been subjected to systematic analysis by investigators from outside the field.

Fingerprint examiners have certainly disagreed with one another: the case of Shirley McKie was a notable case involving fingerprints.

What is the technology involved?

Sometimes the prints are invisible, in which case they are called latent fingerprints, but there are chemical techniques such as cyanoacrylate fuming and ninhydrin spray that can make them visible.

Recently the American Federal Bureau of Investigation adopted a wavelet-based system for efficient storage of fingerprint data, developed by Ingrid Daubechies.

What does the future hold for fingerprinting technology?

In the 2000s, electronic fingerprint readers have been introduced for security applications such as identification of computer users (log-in authentication). However, early devices have been discovered to be vulnerable to quite simple methods of deception, such as fake fingerprints cast in gels.

Future application of this technology range from computer access to office and home security to automobile locks. Example of personal fingerprint scanner:

Much of this article is from Wikipedia. All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License

MEMRISTOR

Researchers at HP Labs have solved a decades-old mystery by proving the existence of a fourth basic element in integrated circuits that could make it possible to develop computers that turn on and off like an electric light.

The memristor — short for memory resistor - could make it possible to develop far more energy-efficient computing systems with memories that retain information even after the power is off, so there's no wait for the system to boot up after turning the computer on. It may even be possible to create systems with some of the pattern-matching abilities of the human brain.

A mathematical model and a physical example that prove the memristor's existence appear in a paper published in the April 30 issue of the journal Nature.

illiams and co-authors Dmitri B. Strukov, Gregory S. Snider and Duncan R. Stewart were able to formulate a physics-based model of a memristor and build nanoscale devices in their lab that demonstrate all of the necessary operating characteristics to prove that the memristor was real. "This is an amazing development," Chua says. "It took someone like Stan Williams with a multi-disciplinary background and deep insights to conceive of such a tiny memristor only a few atoms in thickness." Williams has a background in physical chemistry. Strukov is a theoretical physicist, Snider is a computer architect and Stewart is an experimental physicist.

Possible replacement for D-RAM

By providing a mathematical model for the physics of a memristor, the team makes possible for engineers to develop integrated circuit designs that take advantage of its ability to retain information. "This opens up a whole new door in thinking about how chips could be designed and operated," Williams says. Engineers could, for example, develop a new kind of computer memory that would supplement and eventually replace today's commonly used dynamic random access memory (D-RAM). Computers using conventional D-RAM lack the ability to retain information once they are turned off. When power is restored to a D-RAM-based computer, a slow, energy-consuming "boot-up" process is necessary to retrieve data stored on a magnetic disk required to run the system. Memristor-based computers wouldn't require that process, using less power and possibly increasing system resiliency and reliability. Chua believes the memristor could have applications for computing, cell phones, video games - anything that requires a lot of memory without a lot of battery-power drain.

Brain-like systems?

As for the human brain-like characteristics, memristor technology could one day lead to computer systems that can remember and associate patterns in a way similar to how people do. This could be used to substantially improve facial recognition technology or to provide more complex biometric recognition systems that could more effectively restrict access to personal information. These same pattern-matching capabilities could enable appliances that learn from experience and computers that can make decisions.

Nanoscale electronics experience

In the memristor work, the researchers built on their extensive experience - Williams founded the precursor lab to IQSL in 1995 - in building and studying nanoscale electronics and architectures. One goal of this work has been to move computing beyond the physical and fiscal limits of conventional silicon chips. For decades, increases in chip performance have come about largely by putting more and more transistors on a circuit. Higher densities, however, increase the problems of heat generation and defects and affect the basic physics of the devices. "Instead of increasing the number of transistors on a circuit, we could create a hybrid circuit with fewer transistors but the addition of memristors - and more functionality," Williams says. Alternately, memristor technologies could enable more energy-efficient high-density circuits. In 2007, the team developed an architecture for such a hybrid chip using conventional CMOS technology and nanoscale switching devices. "What we now know," Williams says, "is that these switches have a name - memristor.

he memristor first appeared in a 1971 paper published by Professor Leon Chua, a distinguished faculty member in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences Department of the University of California Berkeley.

Chua described and named the memristor, arguing that it should be included along with the resistor, capacitor and inductor as the fourth fundamental circuit element. The memristor has properties that cannot be duplicated by any combination of the other three elements.

Although researchers had observed instances of memristance for more than 50 years, the proof of its existence remained elusive - in part because memristance is much more noticeable in nanoscale devices. The crucial issue for memristance is that the device' atoms need to change location when voltage is applied, and that happens much more easily at the nanoscale

audio spot light

The Audio Spotlight is a revolutionary new audio technology that creates sound in a narrow beam, just like light. Aim the flat, thin speaker disc to your desired listening area, and provide all of the sound — with none of the noise.

New Medical Breakthroughs

Upping the Odds of Survival

Stop an Epidemic!
Soon there may be a way to fight a pandemic before it has time to spread. The Hemopurifier, designed by Aethlon Medical, a small biotech company in California, is a blood-filtering device that removes viruses and toxins before infection attacks organs, using a method similar to dialysis.

The cool part: Treatment can begin without first identifying the infectious culprit. The blood cleaner comes in two sizes and is used with portable pumps or dialysis machines. The smaller version is the size of a large pen. It can be attached to an artery in the arm by emergency medical personnel, using only needles, tubing and tape. After filtering of the blood is complete (within a few hours), researchers can begin to identify the germ or toxin from blood samples. Aethlon's CEO, James A. Joyce, points out that it took about 90 days before the SARS virus was identified. With the Hemopurifier, you won't lose valuable time -- and lives -- while scientists in the laboratory try to figure out what they're dealing with.
Available: 1-2 years
-- Susan Doremus

Veer John Churchman/Photonice/Getty Images

Spider silk, combined with tiny glass beads called silica, creates a new material that could one day be used in growing and repairing human bones.

Cold, Cold Heart
More cardiac arrest patients are walking out of the hospital thanks to a "cool" procedure (three-quarters of them used to die). Medically induced hypothermia means cooling the blood and body five to eight degrees when oxygen flow to the brain and body has stopped or slowed. Combined with better CPR and more aggressive hospital care, it substantially improves the odds of survival and prevents brain damage, according to new research. Today, half to two-thirds of those people are alive and well.

"For years we didn't see much improvement in patients who suffered cardiac arrest out of the hospital," says Mary Fran Hazinski, RN, spokeswoman for the American Heart Association. "Now we've seen a dramatic shift, and hypothermia is one of the reasons." More than a quarter of U.S. doctors use the procedure, and more are expected to as further data becomes available.
Available: Now
-- Cynthia Dermody

Blood Backup
When it comes to emergency transfusions, blood may someday get the boot. Scientists are developing substitutes that could be used everywhere from ambulances to battlefields.

The oxygen-carrying resuscitative fluids are ideal for emergency, war and disaster scenarios because unlike real blood, they have a long shelf life, can be stored at various temperatures and may be given to anyone, regardless of blood type. Made from chemically modified hemoglobin, the fluids are also nontoxic and disease free.

PolyHeme, a substitute derived from human red blood cells, is being submitted for FDA approval. Meanwhile, the Navy is urging more studies of Hemopure, a blood substitute made with bovine hemoglobin. Some blood substitutes have been linked to increased risk of heart attack and stroke, so more research is needed.
Available: 1-3 years
-- Laura McClure

Microchip for Meds
Do you sometimes forget to take your pills? MicroCHIPS, Inc., of Bedford, Massachusetts, has developed a device that can be preloaded with up to 100 doses of medicine, implanted in the body and programmed to administer the drug via wireless signals. The new system has been designed primarily to help deliver medicines that are less effective when taken orally. It has been successful in preliminary tests with dogs.
Available: 5 years
-- Lindsay Miller

Exciting New Drugs!

Cervical Cancer The vaccine Gardasil (Merck), for girls and women 11 to 26, prevents infection from four strains of human papillomavirus (HPV), the main cause of cervical cancer.

Shingles Anyone who's had chickenpox is susceptible to the painful disease shingles. The Zostavax vaccine (Merck) is recommended for people over 60 at greatest risk.

Edwards Lifesciences

The compressible heart valve.

Whooping Cough The vaccine we get as babies wears off after about seven years, so we now have Sanofi Pasteur's Adacel (for people ages 11 to 64) and GlaxoSmithKline's Boostrix (for those ages 10 to 18).

Cancer Zolinza (Merck), a new medicine for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, is also being studied for other types of cancer, including leukemia.

Diabetes Januvia (Merck), a once-daily pill for type 2 diabetes, is the first of a new class of medicines that enhance the body's ability to control blood sugar. With Exubera (Pfizer), a fast-acting needle-free insulin, diabetics simply puff on the asthma-type inhaler before eating to deliver insulin quickly, regulating blood sugar.

Heart One pill, three impressive jobs: The beta blocker Coreg CR (GlaxoSmithKline) reduces blood pressure and treats heart failure as well as post-heart-attack problems.

Smoking In trials, 44% of smokers who took prescription Chantix (Pfizer) for three months kicked the habit, versus 30% who used other drugs and 18% on a placebo.
Available: Now
-- Patricia Curtis

Cancer- Curing Creature
A scorpion's sting can be deadly, but scientists are now discovering that the poison may also be lifesaving. Researchers are using a man-made version of the venom of Israeli yellow scorpions to treat gliomas, aggressive brain tumors that are hard to fully remove by surgery alone. Of the 17,000 Americans diagnosed annually, only 8% survive for two years. A protein in the venom selectively binds itself to cancerous cells while bypassing the surrounding healthy ones. Combined with radioactive iodine and injected into the body, the venom targets and destroys the offending cells. Early results show that the treatment is safe and extends life in some patients, so a larger study with 54 people nationwide is now under way.
Available:5+ years
-- Neena Samuel

Nano-Knitters for Nerves
Researchers at MIT have found a way to restore vision in brain-damaged rodents. The innovative procedure uses nanotechnology to spur growth in damaged nerve cells. Scientists say the technique could someday be used to restore speech, hearing, vision and movement in people affected by stroke, brain trauma and spinal cord injuries.

How does it work? A clear liquid of amino acids is injected into the injured part of the brain. The amino acids assemble into a mesh-like structure that's similar to the body's connective tissue. This "scaffolding" allows nerve cells to grow and reconnect, restoring lost communication between the brain and the body.

MIT neuroscientist Rutledge Ellis-Behnke tested the solution in hamsters with severed optic tracts. Within 24 hours, the injured nerve cells began to regrow in both young and adult rodents. "The brain started to heal," Ellis-Behnke says. "We have never seen that before." Six months later, 75% of the animals had regained functional vision.
Available:5+ years
-- Laura McClure

The Anti-Aging Pill
What if there were a pill you could take to ward off the diseases that come with aging? Researchers at the National Institute on Aging and Harvard University may have found the answer: resveratrol, a substance found naturally in red wine. Even though scientists fed mice a high-fat diet, a daily dose of resveratrol protected them from diabetes, and they lived longer than mice who didn't get any. It's still unclear exactly how resveratrol works, but it seems to mimic the life-lengthening benefits of calorie restriction. No matter how much red wine you drink, it would be tough to get enough resveratrol (not to mention the side effects of alcohol), so pharmaceutical companies are looking to develop a specially formulated pill form. More research is needed to determine if the effects would be the same in humans, but if they are, we'll drink to that!
Available:5 years
-- Patricia Curtis

Tenolysis Instruments

A specific, frustrating problem that is treated by all hand surgeons is scarring of tendons. Tendon scarring (adhesions) can occur after direct trauma, infection, or immobilization of digits. These adhesions result in limitation of motion of digits. This often requires surgical release, cutting or removing of the scar around tendons.

Tendons are cord-like structures that travel over long distances within tunnels of tissue. There is no surgical instrument that has been specifically designed for introduction into these tunnels to release the scarred tendons. Surgeons often resort to improvisation by using instruments such as dental scrapers and manipulators to try to gain access to these tight spaces.

Prototypes have been developed, modified and redesigned by NewMedical to meet the demands of surgeons. Clinical testing has resulted in working prototypes. A "kit" with a combination of reusable and disposable pieces is being developed. It will include a unique, ergonomically designed handle that has been researched and designed specifically for the needs of hand surgeons and to satisfy consultant's demands. It is currently being manufactured. The "tips" or "blades" of the device will be disposable and interchangeable. Twelve tips are currently being manufactured. Also, a custom container will be part of the kit.

Micro Mandibular External Fixator/Distractor

This device is being developed due to the needs of small bone surgeons. The treatment of small bone fractures of the hand or mandible often requires the use of an external device to maintain the positions of the bones. Also, external devices can be used for 'distraction osteogenesis'. This is a process by which a bone that has a cut made in the centre of it can be made longer by the gradual stretching apart of the two cut parts. This gradual stretching (distraction) allows the formation of new bone with the resultant lengthening of the bone.

An example of this application is the distraction of the mandible (lower jaw bone) of a baby whose mandible is too small at birth. This relatively short mandible can compromise the ability of the baby to breathe.

The problem with current available devices is the large size. The device which has been developed by NewMedical is a fraction of the size of similar devices, but has retained and enhanced the features of competitive devices. The current device weights only 2.3 grams and is constructed of alloys and stainless steel bridging fasteners.

Prototypes have been produced at the NewMedical facilities and have been tested successfully clinically.

Surgical Hand Table

The needs of the "hand surgeon" have not been previously addressed specifically. When operating on an extremity, the patient's arm is placed at right angles to the body and supported on a "surgical hand table". It appears, from the critical review and testing of several designs, that the currently available tables have not been designed or manufactured from the surgeon's perspective. Many innovative features are available on current tables, but none is to the satisfaction of the consultants polled.

Specifically, these tables require minimal obstruction to access of the patient by the surgeon, surgical assistants, and related equipment such as radiographic machinery. The table must be light-weight, have easy storage capabilities, and be radiolucent (allow taking of x-rays through the table itself). It must be stable for use in microsurgical procedures where any movement or vibration can hinder the procedure. Yet it must be height adjustable and easily maneuverable to maximize versatility.

In short, a Surgical Hand Table must be "user friendly".

The table currently under refinement by NewMedical meets all these demands. A unique, lightweight polypropylene top has been integrated with rigid stainless steel fasteners. The monolimb construction using a solid locking gas shock with infinite adjustment capabilities has been incorporated with a lightweight aluminum, anodized platform.

Importantly, development costs and prototype costs have been economized with a resultant product that can be competitively priced, but still out-perform the competition in most categories. Clinically testing is on-going.

FTI

FTI is a proven, employee-focused provider of mission-critical information systems and technical support services to government and private sector organizations worldwide. Our professional team combines the technical depth, breadth and experience of a large firm with the agility, efficiency and personal service that only a smaller firm can offer.

We’re as passionate about your mission as you are. Whether analyzing intelligence data in the field, conducting DNA identification in the wake of disaster, or deploying the right people to support the diverse infrastructure needs of a corporate campus, government facility or military base, FTI consistently performs beyond expectations for our clients, partners and employees.

FTI’s progressive staffing and retention programs provide a stable base of employees that our customers can trust to not only meet their needs, but also to provide continuous support over the lifetime of their contracts. Some of our satisfied IT Services clients include:

• Missile Defense Agency – Acquisition planning, programming, budget management, performance measurement, mail room services, visitor parking services, supply operations


• Nuclear Regulatory Commission – Help desk support services, installation services and database development and maintenance


• Montgomery County (MD) Government – Help desk support services


• U.S. Army Program Manager – Logistics Information Systems, Systems Integration Facility, Fort Lee, VA – Acquisition management, configuration, and deployment, of tactical legacy logistics systems


• Housing and Urban Development Department – Financial management system support


• 43rd Comms Squadron, Pope AFB – System admin, computer operations, network support


• Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg – User interface design and Web site development

Virtual autopsies dissect humans and animals

Anders Persson, director of the Center for Medical Image Science and Visualization at Linköping University, Sweden, received the Lennart Nillson Award for scientific photography this year, for his groundbreaking work on improving CT scans.

His sharp, 3D images provide new perspectives on human and animal bodies, and are even used by police to perform virtual autopsies and look inside a corpse without leaving a trace.

CT scans build up an image from a series of many "slices" taken through a body by an X-ray machine, as it sweeps along its length. Software stitches the slices together again afterwards, to create a 3D representation of the body. The highest resolution scans of a person can be built up from 25,000 separate slices.

Colours are added by instructing the software to make parts with a certain density a certain colour




This scan of a patient with scoliosis, an unnatural curvature of the spine, shows how CT scans can make parts of the body transparent. Instead of colouring in certain structures, the software simply makes them transparent.

It was taken using a dual energy CT scanner, which has two X-ray units rather than the usual one. By creating slices using two different X-ray energies at once it can gather much more information. "You can actually see the ch emistry of the body," says Lennart Nillson, the photographer who the awards commemorate.

Being able to determine the actual elements at a particular point in the body makes it easier to separate tissues with similar density that would confuse a normal scan.



A live chimpanzee from Kålmården zoo near Norrköping, Sweden.

"We have taken scans of many different animals now," Persson told New Scientist. "Until now almost no images like this have ever been made of these species."

Performing a CT scan of a chimp is not easy, he adds, and requires the very latest scanners. This is because chimps have dense bodies, with strong compact bones, a lot of muscle and little fat.



Blood vessels in the head of a dead horse. This image was taken while testing a new contrast agent, intended to be injected into the veins of human bodies before a virtual autopsy.

The veins stand out sharply from their surroundings. The scan also demonstrates a processing step able to remove bones from the final image

very high-resolution scan of a dead boar; each voxel in the image is just 0.15mm across. "Note how you can see the pulp in individual teeth," says Persson. "Only with the latest dual-energy scanner is it possible to see that detail inside the very dense teeth of animals like boar and horses."

Scans of horses' teeth have shown how the soft pulp can extend closer to the surface of their teeth than suspected before, he told New Scientist, leading some vets involved with the centre to conclude that rasps should no long er be used so routinely to file down horses' teeth.






Various images created from a single scan of a living lioness.

Lenovo ThinkPad X301

Earlier this year Lenovo released their ThinkPad X300, a great notebook for the business minded. Recently, the X300 has been updated to the ThinkPad X301 model. With many improvements from its already great predecessor, you can expect great things from the X301.

Familiar, Sturdy Design

When it comes to design, the Lenovo X301 has the same look as most other ThinkPad notebooks that have come before it. It’s a personal choice if you like the ThinkPad design. Some think it’s dull, some people believe it to be simple and effective. It’s a matter of opinion either way. However, there’s no argument that ThinkPad machines have some strong characteristics that stand out from the competition. The X301 laptop weighs a little less than 3.5lbs with an 8X DVD burner and a 6-cell battery equipped. The X301’s exterior is squared off and has a matte black finish. It’s dimensions are 12.5 x 9.1 x 0.9, and just like it’s predecessor the X300, the sides are slightly tapered. The X301 is a beautifully constructed machine with Lenovo’s internal roll cage design and a carbon and class fiber interior, which according to Lenovo, is not only stronger but lighter than titanium.

The keyboard deck and outer shell utilize a new rubberized soft touch paint which helps provide a more secure grip and a more comfortable feel. The X301 has all the regular connectors and ports with three USB 2.0, Ethernet, microphone and headphone jacks, DisplayPort, and a VGA connector. Unfortunately, no memory card slot is included with this laptop, which means you’ll have to use a USB card reader device or adapter to read from memory cards.

Display and Speakers

The X301 employs a LED-backlit, 13.3" (1440×900 resolution) display with a matte finish that prevents most glare. The high resolution certainly makes a difference when viewing documents and web pages, though the default text may be too small for some eyes. The backlit, low-reflectivity LED keeps the display legible when outdoors. Rich colors and wide viewing angles are available for watching DVDs and other content. The stereo speakers lacked low-end punch, but due to their close proximity (they’re located in the palmrest), the volume was clear and loud. Above the display is a 1.3 megapixel webcam that provided somewhat dark visuals when tested through video chat.

With the high resolution (1440×900) 13.3" screen, the X301 is great for surfing the web and viewing documents. The LED display is amazingly clear for viewing outdoors because it’s extremely low reflectivity negates glare. The ThinkPad X301 features wide viewing angles with rich colors, which makes watching a DVD or other content more enjoyable. The 1.3 megapixel camera (located above the display) was a little dark during the video chat tests performed via MSN Messenger.

First-Class Ergonomics

In line with all the other ThinkPad models, the X301 features a magnificent keyboard that definitely ranks with the top runners in the business. The typing experience is excellent because the keyboard provides space in between individual keys. The X301 includes a touchpad and a pointing stick (located between the G and H keys) for navigation. The touchpad may be small for some users since the design accommodates for the larger keys. A biometric fingerprint reader is integrated to the right of the touchpad to help keep private business away from unauthorized individuals. Above the keyboard, you’ll notice buttons for volume, mute, ThinkVantage (for launching Lenovo’s system utilities), and, of course, the power button.

Performance

The base configuration is equipped with 2GB of RAM and an Intel Core 2 Due (1.4GHz) U9400 Ultra Low Voltage processor. The ThinkPad X301 achieved a PCMark Vantage score of 3157, which is 400 points higher than most ultraportables. It’s a great score, but still falls about 60 points shy of the Sony VAIO VGN-Z530N’s and almost 500 points shy of the Lenovo ThinkPad X200.

The X301 didn’t fare so well on all of its graphics tests. On the 3DMark03 benchmark, the X301 (which is powered by an Intel GMA X4500MHD graphics card) netted an 1812, a score that’s 400 points higher than its competitors and its predecessor the X300. However, the 3DMark06 score was 200 points less than other machines in its category. F.E.A.R was also tested in auto-detect mode, and the game ran at a miniscule 14fps. When the settings were increased to maximum, it ran at only 6fps. W.O.W ran at 27.4fps, which is okay, but it is important to remember that this is not a gaming laptop, and should not be expected to out perform Alienware, for example.

Lenovo’s X301’s boot-up time was a little slower than expected. The X301, with its 64GB SSD, took about 1 minute and 37 seconds to boot-up Windows Vista, almost 30 seconds slower than the average ultraportable and 48 seconds slower than the older X300. The SSD did not disappoint and definitely lived up to its fast transfer time copying a 5 GB folder in about 2 minutes and 40 seconds, however. The SSD has a transfer rate of 32.4 megabytes per second, which is miles ahead of the 13.4 megabyte per second transfer rate of competitors using mechanical drives. If 64GB does not fill your needs for capacity, an upgrade option is available for a 128GB SSD, which costs $400.

Test Results

PCMark Vantage / 3DMark03 / 3DMark06	3,157 - 1,812 - 683
Battery Life	3:29
F.E.A.R. (auto-detect/max)	14/6fps
W.O.W. (auto-detect) / File Transfer Test	27.4fps - 32.4 MB/s
Boot time (m:ss)	1:37
Wireless Performance (15/50 ft)	20.8 MB/s - 18.7 MB/s

Wi-Fi and Battery Life

The 802.11a/g/n Wi-Fi moves data at an excellent speed of 20.8 MB/s at a distance of 15 feet from the access point, and 18.7 MB/s at 50 feet. These are nice improvements over the 16.7 MB/s and 16.1 MB/s averages presented by the X300, and made for a pleasant surfing experience. Although the default configuration does not include integrated mobile broadband, you can add a 3G connection from AT&T ($80) or Verizon Wireless ($150), which also features integrated GPS. The X301 will support WiMAX and Ultra-Wideband technologies when they become available.

When it comes to long battery life, the X301 definitely falls short by quite a bit. Its six cell battery lasted only 3 hours and a half during tests. On the same test, Sony’s VAIO VGN-Z530N lasted 5 hours. A little more should be expected out of ultraportable laptops when it comes to battery life (at least 4 hours).

Software, Security, and Warranty

Those who care about security on their portable computers will definitely appreciate the X301’s full disk encryption, centrally managed passwords, ability to disable the BIOS port, and remote lockdown. The machine is covered with an extendable 1 year warranty and 24/7 tech support. Included with the X301 is Lenovo Camera Center, a 60-day trial to Microsoft Office, Access Connections 5, Adobe Acrobat Reader, and Roxio Creator Business Edition.

The X300 was an outstanding laptop released by Lenovo, but they have definitely done a nice job with the ThinkPad X301. They took all the good aspects from the X300, and made them better for the X301. With the new Centrino 2 platform and an ultra-fast 64GB SSD, the X301 comes at a price. If you’re looking for an amazing business notebook, though, it will not disappoint. One thing we’d have to mention, however, is that you should consider investing in a spare battery.

Technical Specifications

CPU	1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo U9400 ULV
RAM Included	2GB
RAM Upgradable To	4GB
Hard Drive Size	64GB
Hard Drive Speed	90MB/s Read and 70MB/s Write
Hard Drive Type	SSD Drive
Optical Drive Type	DVD+RW
Optical Drive Speed	8X
Display Size (inches)	13.3
Native Resolution	1440×900
Graphics Card	Intel GMA X4500MHD
Video Memory	384MB
Wi-Fi	802.11a/g/n
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 2.0
Mobile Broadband	Optional Add-on 3G connection from AT&T ($80) or Verizon Wireless ($150)
Operating System	MS Windows Vista Business
Ports (excluding USB)	DisplayPort; Ethernet; Headphone; Microphone; VGA
USB Ports	3
Card Slot(s)	N/A
Warranty/Support	One-year parts and labor/24/7 toll-free phone
Size	12.5 x 9.1 x 0.9 inches
Weight	3.4 pounds