Industries
The effects of anti-cancer drug in human cells
Researchers at the Institute of Industrial Science (IIS), the University of Tokyo, CNRS and INSERM, report a new organ-on-a-chip technology for the study of blood vessel formation and drugs targeting this event. The technology recreates a human blood vessel and shows how new capillaries grow from a single vessel (parent vessel) in response to proper biochemical signaling cues.
Target genes to halt progression of thyroid cancer
Thyroid cancer is a disease with good cure rates in most cases. In 5% of patients, however, the tumour becomes refractory to the available therapies and may spread all over the body, causing death.
Zero gravity graphene could prove useful in space
In a series of experiments, Cambridge researchers experienced weightlessness testing graphene’s application in space. Working as part of a collaboration between the Graphene Flagship and the European Space Agency, researchers from the Cambridge Graphene Centre tested graphene in microgravity conditions for the first time while aboard a parabolic flight – often referred to as the ‘vomit comet’. The experiments they con...
Lens-free point-of-care system diagnoses spinal meningitis
A research institute at CEA Tech, Leti, has invented a lens-free microscope technology that provides point-of-care diagnosis for spinal meningitis. Outlined in a paper presented at Photonics West, the new technology provides immediate results and eliminates errors in counting white blood cells (leukocytes) in cerebrospinal fluid, which is required to diagnose the infection.
Drone competition off to a flying start
A variety of young budding engineers from across the UK and overseas will be challenged to design, build and operate an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) in a humanitarian aid mission as part of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ annual challenge. The competition, which is now in its fourth year, has been growing steadily since its launch, when twelve teams took part. This year, twenty-five teams will compete, including 4 internatio...
Project to make maintenance more effective on railways
Experts at the University of Huddersfield are playing a central role in a £680,000 project designed to transform the maintenance of rail vehicles - and they will test their new techniques on the hard-working trains operated by London Underground.
Where technology meets nature: the tree-planting drones
We are chopping down about 15 billion trees a year and planting about nine billion. So there’s a net loss of six billion trees a year. Hand planting trees is slow and expensive. To keep pace with the tractors and bulldozers clearing vast areas of land, we need an industrial-scale solution. For example, a drone that can plant up to 100,000 trees a day. Author: Charlotte Edmond
Neuro electrical stimulation improves memory
Tickling the brain with low-intensity electrical stimulation in a specific area can improve verbal short-term memory. Mayo Clinic researchers report their findings in Brain. The researchers found word recall was enhanced with stimulation of the brain’s lateral temporal cortex, the regions on the sides of the head by the temples and ears. Patients recalled more words from a previously viewed list when low-amplitude electrical stimu...
Technique evaluates the effect of drugs on the brain
An international team led by ETH researchers has developed a technique that uses electrical brain signals to more precisely evaluate the effect of drugs on the brain. It could be of particular use in the early development phase of anti-epilepsy medication. There are still comparatively few treatments available for brain diseases. Among other reasons, this is due to the difficulty of developing new drugs, as it is not easy to establish the ef...
Automotive-grade capacitors designed for demanding applications
Manufacturer and supplier of passive components, interconnects, sensors, and control solutions, AVX, has added a new 'U' case (EIA Metric 7361-43) to its TRM Professional Series multianode, ultralow-ESR tantalum capacitors, extending the range with several new ratings designed to address the demands of an ever-expanding scope of high-reliability automotive, military, medical, aerospace, and industrial applications.