Industries
Gene could protect against heart disease
Scientists have identified a gene that may play a protective role in preventing heart disease. Their research revealed that the gene, called MeXis, acts within key cells inside clogged arteries to help remove excess cholesterol from blood vessels. Published in the journal Nature Medicine, the UCLA-led study in mice found that MeXis controls the expression of a protein that pumps cholesterol out of cells in the artery wall.
Headset uses tDCS to stimulate the brain
Created by Halo Neuroscience, a Silicon Valley firm founded by Dr. Daniel Chao and Dr. Brett Wingeier, the Halo Sport uses a process called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to stimulate the brain. It sends a low level electric current of around 1.4 to 2.2 milliamps to a targeted region of the brain to excite the neurons, effectively “priming” them to be more likely to fire and create new neural pathways. This means that ...
Training partnership improves UK commercial drone industry
Thanks to a new partnership between NATS and Sky-Futures, the landscape of drone training in the UK is set to change. The initiative will deliver expert training to the burgeoning commercial drone sector and the emergency services. As businesses and public services increasingly seek to embrace the benefits of drone technology, the NATS/Sky-Futures partnership will deliver tailored, scenario-based training that will aim to set a new standard ...
Robots could think and plan in the abstract
Researchers from Brown University and MIT have developed a method for helping robots plan for multi-step tasks by constructing abstract representations of the world around them. Their study, published in the Journal of Artificial Intelligence Research, is a step toward building robots that can think and act more like people. Planning is a monumentally difficult thing for robots, largely because of how they perceive and interact with the...
Next-gen robotics debut at MWC 2018
With the launch of the new Automated Cosmetic Defect Check tool, Pervacio will also be at Mobile World Congress (MWC) showcasing its next generation robotics technology at the event. Sanjay Kanodia, founder and CEO of the mobile device solutions specialist, said: “Pervacio Robotics supports organisations that have embraced the move from a manual processing model to a semi-automated, software-driven solution by helping them achiev...
Incidents underscore need for drone detection at airports
Global provider of drone detection and mitigation products, DroneShield has recently noted multiple media reports of a video recently recorded by an unknown drone pilot flying his or her drone disturbingly close to a Frontier Airlines passenger jet as it came in to land at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas.
QVAR RediHaler inhalation aerosol now available
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. has announced that QVAR RediHaler (beclomethasone dipropionate HFA) Inhalation Aerosol is now commercially available to patients in both 40 mcg and 80 mcg strengths by prescription in the U.S. QVAR RediHaler is the first and only breath-actuated aerosol inhaled corticosteroid for the maintenance treatment of asthma as a prophylactic therapy in patients 4 years of age and older. It is not ind...
How to make smarter investments in automation
Highlighted in the Government’s Made Smarter Review, Industrial Digitalisation Technologies (IDTs) are transforming the manufacturing industry - that’s Artificial Intelligence (AI), 3D printing, intelligent software, virtual reality and robotics. Nigel Smith, Managing Director at TM Robotics, explains why manufacturers in Britain shouldn’t blindly invest in IDTs and instead, should use Made Smarter to make smarter automatio...
Compact automotive feedthrough filter offers 1µF capacitance
Global electronics company, TDK, has extended its lineup of 3-terminal feedthrough filters for automotive applications. The new YFF18AC0J105M type is available in an IEC 1608 package (EIA 0603) with compact dimensions of 1.6x0.8x0.6mm and features what is supposedly the industry’s highest capacitance of 1µF for a feedthrough filter of its size. The component offers a rated current of 2A and a rated voltage of 6.3V.
Scientists develop functioning kidney tissue
Scientists have successfully produced human kidney tissue within a living organism which is able to produce urine, a first for medical science. The study led by Professors Sue Kimber and Adrian Woolf from The University of Manchester, signifies a significant milestone in the development of treatment for kidney disease. The Medical Research Council and Kidney Research UK funded project is published in the journal Stem Cell Reports.