Technology Review – A new method of synthesizing dopamine-producing neurons, the predominant type of brain cell destroyed in Parkinson’s, offers hope for creating cell-replacement therapies that reverse the damage. The method provides an efficient way of making functional cells. When transplanted into mice and rats with brain damage and movement problems similar to Parkinson’s, the …
Greece’s embattled prime minister and main opposition leader agreed Sunday to form an interim government to ensure the country’s new European debt deal and oversee early elections, capping a week of political turmoil that saw Greece facing a catastrophic default and threatening its euro membership. Papandreou “has already stated he will not lead the new …
Optimal asymmetric 1 → 4 quantum cloning in arbitrary dimension We present an optimal asymmetric 1 → 4 quantum cloner. Our derivation generalizes the constructions of optimal asymmetric 1 → 2 and 1 → 3 quantum cloners in [Quantum Inf. Comput 5, 583 (2005)]. We explicitly prove the optimality of this cloner and give the …
American Journal of Transplantation – Bioartificial Lung Engineering End-stage lung disease is a major health care challenge. Lung transplantation remains the definitive treatment, yet rejection and donor organ shortage limit its broader clinical impact. Engineering bioartificial lung grafts from patient-derived cells could theoretically lead to alternative treatment strategies. Although many challenges on the way to …
Forbes – The metrics of success that Bill Gates is concerned about now are lives saved, kids who aren’t crippled. Bill Gates’ vaccine-based giving is closing in on $6 billion to fight measles, hepatitis B, rotavirus and AIDS, among others—is part of the largest, most human-driven philanthropy in the history of mankind. “A 23-cent vaccine,” …
New algorithm could substantially speed up MRI scans. Faster scans could reduce the time patients spend in the machine from 45 to 15 minutes. Using GPUs (graphical processing units) could improve the speed even more. MRI scanners use strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce images of the body. Rather than taking just one …
NPR had a claim – two years ago, America was importing about two thirds of its oil. Today, according to the Energy Information Administration, it imports less than half. The actual levels seem to be more of a shift from 61-63% imports to 47% imports. 3.8 million barrels per day of lower oil imports but …
1. Navy Times – A F/A-18D Hornet made a “hands-free” landing on the carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower in July, a big step for unmanned flight. Once unmanned aircraft have mastered midair refueling — a task the Navy hasn’t attempted yet — a new set of capabilities will sit in the hangar. “Pound for pound, you’re …
1. Improved Sequencing as a SENS Accelerant by Halcyon Molecular We are improving DNA sequencing to achieve our goal of turning biology into an information science. Along the way, various SENS approaches will be accelerated by improved DNA sequencing, and we present here specific experimental paths for using the tool in service of SENS. As …
The StratoSolar PV solution represents an opportunity to make today’s PV technology cost effective without the massive subsidy needed to drive the technology to commercial viability in the 15 to 20 years historical trends would indicate will be necessary. It also makes PV an affordable alternative for locations like Germany and Japan where PV is …
Forbes – After more than a decade of battles with Sony and Nintendo, Microsoft sits atop the console business, where its entertainment and devices unit squeezed out operating income of just $32 million on $1.5 billion in sales for the quarter ending June 30. And that’s a success story. Now analysts are betting Amazon will …