September 30, 2013

PTC expertise for low-volume production of electric vehicles: Eberspaecher catem offers EU-homologated heating solution



Electric mobility continues to make headway and a growing number of small OEMs and niche suppliers are bringing forward-looking vehicle models to the market. The technological leader Eberspaecher is now the first manufacturer to offer an EU-homologated PTC heater for this target group.

Although the number of players in the market for electric cars was quite small until recently, numerous manufacturers are now offering models ready for serial production.


UCLA engineers develop new metabolic pathway to more efficiently convert sugars into biofuels



UCLA chemical engineering researchers have created a new synthetic metabolic pathway for breaking down glucose that could lead to a 50 percent increase in the production of biofuels.

The new pathway is intended to replace the natural metabolic pathway known as glycolysis, a series of chemical reactions that nearly all organisms use to convert sugars into the molecular precursors that cells need. Glycolysis converts four of the six carbon atoms found in glucose into two-carbon molecules known acetyl-CoA, a precursor to biofuels like ethanol and butanol, as well as fatty acids, amino acids and pharmaceuticals. However, the two remaining glucose carbons are lost as carbon dioxide.


Peugeot shows sporting edge at SMMT



Peugeot is celebrating its sporting pedigree by showing a number of high performance models from past and present in an exhibition at SMMT’s Westminster headquarters. Included in the display is the manufacturer’s new 208 GTi, flagship RCZ coupe and the iconic 205 GTi.

First on sale in the UK in 1984, the 205 GTi made the Peugeot brand synonymous with the hot hatch movement of the mid-1980s. Offered with both 1.6 and 1.9 litre engines – the latter of which developed 130bhp from 1987 onwards – and weighing just 850kg, the 205 GTi offered sports-car rivalling pace coupled with the practicality and versatility of a small family car.


AND IN THE BEGINNING WAS HISTONE 1



A team at IRB Barcelona identifies an essential protein for embryonic viability during the first cell divisions in the fly Drosophila.

This protein, called dBigH1, which is a variant of histone 1, could also be associated with fertility issues.

A zygote is the first cell of a new individual that comes about as the result of the fusion of an ovule with a spermatozoid. The DNA of the zygote holds all the information required to generate an adult organism. However, in the first stages of life, during the so-called embryogenesis, the genome of this zygote is repressed and does not exert any activity.


An automatic monitoring system has been created for subtitling digital television


 30% OF THE CHANNELS DO NOT SUBTITLE CORRECTLY

Researchers at the Laboratorio de Accesibilidad Audiovisual (Laboratory for Audiovisual Accessibility) in Universidad Carlos III of Madrid’s (UC3M) Science Park have created a system that analyzes the contents of subtitles on DTTV. According to the data that is automatically gathered, 30% of channels fail to comply with current legislation regarding subtitling and accessibility.

The objective of this innovation, called SAVAT, is to automate the control of subtitled content on Digital Terrestrial Television (DTTV). To do so, the system records the signals of all channels and analyzes the subtitles, so it can then check the number of hours subtitling was emitted, its speed, the coherence of the signal and the accuracy of spelling, among other parameters. Its creators, researchers at the Centro Español del Subtitulado y la Audiodescripción (CESyA – the Spanish Center for Subtitling and Audio Description, a center that comes under the Real Patronato sobre Discapacidad – the Royal Trust for the Handicapped - managed by UC3M), have been working at the UC3M Laboratory for Audiovisual Accessibility of the Technology Center for the Handicapped and Dependents (Laboratorio de Accesibilidad Audiovisual del Centro de Tecnologías para la Discapacidad y Dependencia) to develop their own algorithm for detecting and calculating with greater than 95% precision the time that subtitles are available on each working television channel.


Wagon-Wheel Pasta Shape for Better LED



One problem in developing more efficient organic LED light bulbs and displays for TVs and phones is that much of the light is polarized in one direction and thus trapped within the light-emitting diode, or LED. University of Utah physicists believe they have solved the problem by creating a new organic molecule that is shaped like rotelle – wagon-wheel pasta – rather than spaghetti.

The rotelle-shaped molecule – known as a “pi-conjugated spoked-wheel macrocycle” – acts the opposite of polarizing sunglasses, which screen out glare reflected off water and other surfaces and allow only direct sunlight to enter the eyes.


S. Korean Scientists Produce Gasoline from Glucose



South Korean researchers have successfully produced gasoline from glucose using genetically modified microbes.

The team from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) led by Professor Lee Sang-yeop says it developed colon bacteria which break down glucose to produce gasoline.

The team explained regular cells consume glucose and produce fatty acid in order to create cell membranes or cell walls, but the metabolically-engineered microbes disintegrate fatty acids into gasoline and discharge them from the body.



Jellyfish Exterminator Robot Developed



A team led by KAIST Civil and Environmental Engineering Department’s Professor Hyeon Myeong has just finished testing the cooperative assembly robot for jellyfish population control, named JEROS, in the field.

The rising number of accidents and financial losses by fishing industry, estimated at 300 billion won per year, caused by the recent swarm of jellyfish in coastal waters has been a major problem for many years. The research team led by Prof. Hyeon Myeong began developing an unmanned automated system capable of eradicating jellyfishin in 2009, and has since completed field-tests last year with success.


September 29, 2013

NISSAN LEAF WITH HIGHLY ADVANCED DRIVER ASSIST SYSTEM GETS FIRST LICENSE PLATE FOR PUBLIC ROAD TESTING IN JAPAN

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* First time a vehicle featuring Advanced Driver Assist System will be tested on Japanese roads
* Real-world testing critical as Nissan pushes ahead with development of revolutionary Autonomous Drive to meet 2020 vision

Nissan President and CEO Carlos Ghosn today took delivery of Japan's first license plate for a car equipped with highly advanced driver assist systems. It clears the way for a Nissan LEAF equipped with the technology to be tested on the public roads in Japan for the first time. The research program will accelerate the development of technologies fundamental to Autonomous Drive. The systems are designed to allow the driver to manually take over control at any time.


Camera artist casts new light on Jomon millennia

A pot from the Jomon Nanjai sitein Gunma Prefecture. / TADAHIRO  OGAWA

The Jomon Period of Japanese history is so shrouded in the mists of time that any bid to fathom its secrets stretches even the usual astonishing bounds of prehistoric archeology.

Yet as amateurs and experts alike have continued unearthing and studying 2,000- to 10,000-year-old examples of Jomon pottery and stone tools for more than a century, the pieces of the puzzle are gradually coming together.


September 28, 2013

ASIMO Receives Warm Welcome in Slovakia For Country Debut



ASIMO travelled to Bratislava, Slovakia this week to attend the City's European Researchers' Night and help inspire the country’s next generation of scientists and engineers.

It is the first time ASIMO has visited the central European country and the fourth time Honda Motor Europe has supported the European Commission’s pan-European initiative to help normalize science amongst the general public and show what researchers really do for Society.


Mobile to attract big investments from retailers in the next five years



Informa’s latest research indicates that many retailers are now making significant investments to integrate mobile into their in-store, online and call-center operations.

Some big retailers, such as Walmart and Marks & Spencer (M&S), are investing to develop in-house expertise and resources to support their mobile strategies, while many others are fully outsourcing their mobile integration needs to specialist IT and marketing firms providing managed services.




Silverado High Country Defines Rugged Luxury

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Like a finely crafted saddle or pair of custom-fitted boots, the 2014 Silverado High Country embodies rugged luxury – craftsmanship, authenticity and functionality rolled into a truck that’s stronger, smarter and more capable than ever.

It is Chevrolet’s first premium truck and one of the industry’s most capable, backing up an exclusive package of distinctive design elements, comfort and convenience features with segment-topping capability – including the segment’s most powerful V-8 and a 4,354 kg (9,600-pound) trailering rating.


2014 Lexus RX 350 Demonstrates How Lexus Created and Then Dominated the Luxury Crossover Utility Vehicle Segment

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* Standard 270-hp 3.5-liter V6, front-wheel drive or all-weather drive
* F SPORT model with new eight-speed automatic transmission and paddle shifters
* New Siri® Eyes Free mode, with technology from Apple®

There’s no question that Lexus created the blueprint for the luxury crossover utility vehicle 15 years ago with the original RX models. The 2014 RX 350 maintains its segment leadership by evolving that original, much-copied formula. The 2013 model year brought a freshened design with the bold brand-signature spindle grille. The line also brought new driving pleasure with the RX 350 F SPORT model.


2014 Lexus ES 300h Hybrid Luxury Sedan Receives 40 mpg EPA Estimated Combined Fuel Economy

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* New Siri® Eyes Free mode, with technology from Apple®
* Heated/ventilated seats now available in NuLuxe trim
* Lexus Enform® with subscription-free App Suite multimedia

The first luxury brand to introduce a hybrid vehicle nearly 10 years ago, Lexus continues its hybrid leadership by offering five models powered by the innovative Hybrid Synergy Drive. The latest addition, the ES 300h, debuted for 2013 as the first-ever ES hybrid.


Eugene Laverty fastest in first qualifying



The first qualifying session for the World Superbike Championship at Laguna Seca saw already a very close competition, as the top-14 riders were in only one second of each other at the chequered flag. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) and Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) easily got to grips with the American track to end up in first and third place respectively, while Niccolò Canepa (Team Ducati Alstare), who raced at Laguna in MotoGP, scored a sensational second place finish with just a 0.013 seconds gap from the leader.


The Future of Innovation Comes to the Smithsonian Oct. 6



How Does Innovation Affect Daily Life?

“Innovation: Brainstorms, Big Ideas and the Creative Future” is the topic of a free daylong program at the Smithsonian Sunday, Oct. 6. It will be held from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Smithsonian’s Ripley Center.

Innovators drawn from the Smithsonian, NASA, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s United States Patent and Trademark Office, science, technology and the arts will come together to present a series of 15-minute, highly focused presentations that look at some big questions about how big ideas are born.


Diabetes increases the risk of developing and dying from breast and colon cancer



Diabetes is linked to an increased risk of developing cancer, and now researchers have performed a unique meta-analysis that excludes all other causes of death and found that diabetic patients not only have an increased risk of developing breast and colon cancer but an even higher risk of dying from them.

Dr Kirstin De Bruijn will tell the 2013 European Cancer Congress (ECC2013)[1], today (Sunday), that previous studies have examined the association between diabetes and dying from cancer but death from specific types of cancer has not been well-studied. “Our meta-analysis is the first to combine incidence and death from breast and colon cancer, while excluding all other causes of death. We have investigated the link between diabetes and the risk of developing as well as the risk of dying from these cancers,” she will say.



September 27, 2013

Osram presents future technologies for car headlights



Osram showed its new products for the coming generation of car headlights at the tenth International Symposium on Automotive Lighting (ISAL) in Darmstadt, Germany (24 to 25 September 2013). A road-compliant OLED tail light, LED products for glare-free high beam light and a survey from the laser light sector could be experienced among other interesting topics.


SUPERFAST SWITCHING OF A QUANTUM LIGHT SOURCE



Usually, an elementary light source – such as an excited atom or molecule – emits light of a particular color at an unpredictable instance in time. Recently, however, scientists from the MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology of the UT, FOM and the Institute for Nanoscience and Cryogenics (CEA/INAC) in France have shown that a light source can be coaxed to emit light at a desired moment in time, within an ultrashort burst. The superfast switching of a light source has applications in fast stroboscopes without laser speckle, in the precise control of quantum systems and for ultrasecure communication using quantum cryptography. The theoretical results appeared on 25 September in Optics Express.


A study carried out on ninety-year-olds reveals the benefits of strength training as physical exercise



After doing specific training for 12 weeks, people over the age of 90 improved their strength, power and muscle mass. This was reflected in an increase in their walking speed, a greater capacity to get out of their chairs, an improvement in their balance, a significant reduction in the incidence of falls and a significant improvement in muscle power and mass in the lower limbs. These are some of the outcomes of the study recently published in the journal Age of the American Ageing Association and which was led by Mikel Izquierdo-Redín, Professor of Physiotherapy at the NUP/UPNA-Public University of Navarre.


NTU to host the World Cultural Council awards and inaugural World Academic Summit



Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is hosting two prestigious events next week – the World Cultural Council’s 30th Award Ceremony and the World Academic Summit. These events will bring into focus the outstanding achievements of the world’s best and most creative minds, and bring together leaders and decision-makers from around the world to discuss the opportunities and challenges related to the development of future research and innovation.

Three leading scholars and artists will be honoured at the World Cultural Council Award Ceremony on 2 October 2013.  The World Cultural Council, a Mexico-based international organisation that promotes academic achievement, will present its Albert Einstein World Award of Science to Professor Sir Paul Nurse, President of the Royal Society (United Kingdom), and the Leonardo da Vinci Award of Arts to Prof Petteri Nisunen and Mr Tommi Gronlund in a ceremony on NTU's campus.


All-new Kia Carens wins Euro NCAP 5-Star safety rating



• Maximum safety rating for Kia’s new five or seven-seater compact MPV
• Carens achieves high point scores across all elements of Euro NCAP test

The all-new Kia Carens compact MPV has been awarded a maximum 5-Star safety rating by Europe’s leading road safety organisation, Euro NCAP.

The Kia Carens is one of only two compact MPV models currently on sale in Europe to earn 5-Stars in the 2013 Euro NCAP tests.  The five-door, five or seven-seater Kia achieved high scores for Adult Occupant Protection (94%), Child Occupant Protection (76%), Safety Assist equipment (81%) and Pedestrian protection (64%).


S&T professor develops ‘brain’ for robots



A researcher at Missouri University of Science and Technology has developed a new feedback system to remotely control mobile robots. This innovative research will allow robots to operate with minimal supervision and could eventually lead to a robot that can learn or even become autonomous.

The research, developed by Dr. Jagannathan Sarangapani, makes use of current formation moving robots and introduces a fault-tolerant control design to improve the probability of completing a set task. Currently there is a lot of potential growth in this field, as very few robotic systems have this redundancy because of costs.


U.Va. Researcher: Methane Out, Carbon Dioxide In?


 A University of Virginia engineering professor has proposed a novel approach for keeping waste carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

Andres Clarens, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at U.Va.’s School of Engineering and Applied Science, and graduate student Zhiyuan Tao have published a paper in which they estimate the amount of carbon dioxide that could be stored in hydraulically fractured shale deposits after the methane gas has been extracted. Their peer-reviewed finding was published in Environmental Science and Technology, a publication of the American Chemical Society.


September 26, 2013

Bang & Olufsen Introduces New Wireless Speaker Technology at CEDIA 2013



A second-to-none multi-channel wireless experience that provides robust acoustic performance and flexible and simple operation.

Bang & Olufsen announces the introduction of a new wireless speaker platform, the first ever to use wireless technology that is robust enough for high-end digital sound, at CEDIA 2013 tradeshow in Denver, Colorado. With the new wireless technology, audiophiles can now enjoy 24-bit, uncompressed music wirelessly. Installers and decorators can achieve cinema-quality surround sound without the wire clutter. The new wireless technology by Bang & Olufsen incorporates WiSA’s (Wireless Speaker and Audio Association) open standard to achieve the ultimate sound performance in multi-channel wireless set up. Therefore, Bang & Olufsen’s next-generation wireless speakers, to be introduced later this fall, will connect to any WiSA compliant third-party television, Blu-ray player, AV receiver or the like – simply, flexibly and brilliantly


Spirals of Light May Lead to Better Electronics



A group of researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) has created the optical equivalent of a tuning fork—a device that can help steady the electrical currents needed to power high-end electronics and stabilize the signals of high-quality lasers. The work marks the first time that such a device has been miniaturized to fit on a chip and may pave the way to improvements in high-speed communications, navigation, and remote sensing.


BUILDING A BETTER MOUSETRAP TO CATCH PROSTATE CANCER


Drs. Scott Tomlins and Arul Chinnaiyan of the University of Michigan discovered a gene fusion abnormality
known as T2:ERG that is present in half of all prostate cancers and
 is thought to be an initiator of this disease.
A new urine test, based in part on detecting T2:ERG,
is now available to aid in early detection of prostate cancer.

When scientists and doctors disagree over the finer points of our medical care, the best the rest of us can do is talk with our own doctors, read about the debate so we are as informed as possible, and perhaps do a bit of advocacy to fund the research needed to solve the debate. In May of last year, one such debate erupted when a group of physicians and scientists convened by the U.S. government to make health care recommendations for the general public changed course from prior years and called for an end to the routine use of a blood test that screens men for prostate cancer.


Water for future Mars astronauts?



Within its first three months on Mars, NASA’s Curiosity Rover saw a surprising diversity of soils and sediments along a half-kilometer route that tell a complex story about the gradual desiccation of the Red Planet.

Diversity of Martian soils leaves Los Alamos scientists thirsty for more

Perhaps most notable among findings from the ChemCam team is that all of the dust and fine soil contains small amounts of water.


NEW McLAREN SHOWROOM OPENS AT MEILENWERK STUTTGART

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* Fifth McLaren showroom in Germany will officially open on 26th September at Meilenwerk Stuttgart
* The McLaren P1™ will be on display at the opening celebrations
* The event takes place amid the 50th anniversary celebrations for McLaren

McLaren Automotive is actively continuing its plan of expanding its retailer network by opening the latest showroom in Germany. Just three weeks after the sports car manufacturer’s 50th anniversary, the models of the British car maker will shine at Meilenwerk Stuttgart. The new showroom – the company’s fifth in Germany – will officially open on 26th September, further enhancing this German car metropolis with a very prominent marque.


Bayer’s transparent polycarbonate lights the way to greater design freedom for innovative LED lighting component



As demand for energy-efficient light-emitting diode (LED) fixtures continues to grow, manufacturers are responding with a larger selection of high-quality LED lighting options.

 The LED light engine is a key component that helps make the LED lighting that surrounds us each day more energy efficient. Light engines are used in both new lighting and retrofits of older lighting applications, which include indoor and outdoor wall sconces, outdoor wall packs, surface-mounted ceiling fixtures and recessed step and wall lights.

LED lighting manufacturers are seeking materials that not only offer design freedom, but are tough, reliable and feature a strong property profile.


UA Professor Hopes to Improve Open Software Development



Development of open-source software could be improved through understanding how isolated programmers collaborate, according to a research project underway by a computer scientist at The University of Alabama.

The web browser Firefox, for example, is Free/Libre and Open Source Software, or FLOSS. In these applications, the source code, or the instructions that control how the program behaves, is available to be viewed and modified by users.


Debt linked to mental health problems



New research, led by the University of Southampton, has shown that people in debt are three times more likely to have a mental health problem than those not in debt.

There is currently around £156 billion in unsecured debt such as credit cards in the UK, of which the average family owes more than £11,000. Levels of debt have increased in recent years due to the economic recession and are predicted to increase further.




Without a trace - Cells keep to one direction by erasing the path




Migrating cells, it seems, cover their tracks not for fear of being followed, but to keep moving forward. Scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, have now shown that cells in a zebrafish embryo determine which direction they move in by effectively erasing the path behind them. The findings, published online today in Nature, could have implications not just for development but also for cancer and metastasis.


Neutrons show accumulation of antidepressant in brain - Lithium in the brain



Experiments with neutrons at the Technische Universität München (TUM) show that the antidepressant lithium accumulates more strongly in white matter of the brain than in grey matter. This leads to the conclusion that it works differently from synthetic psychotropic drugs. The tissue samples were examined at the Research Neutron Source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II) with the aim of developing a better understanding of the effects this substance has on the human psyche.

At present lithium is most popular for its use in rechargeable batteries. But for decades now, lithium has also been used to treat various psychological diseases such as depressions, manias and bipolar disorders. But, the exact biological mode of action in certain brain regions has hardly been understood. It is well known that lithium lightens moods and reduces aggression potential.


Innovators get your thinking caps on



Anyone with an idea for a novel product, service or technology that could be of value to the grains industry is being encouraged to submit their concepts to the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC). GRDC, through its Innovation Investment program, is looking to capture ideas and concepts from any field that have the potential to improve the Australian grains industry.

GRDC Manager of Commercial Farm Technologies, Paul Meibusch, says the GRDC is aiming to invest up to $1.5 million per year in this program, with up to 10 short-term, proof-of-concept type projects to be contracted annually. “The next round of applications is now open, and GRDC is welcoming submissions from private or public organisations as well as individuals, including potential co-investments with private companies,” Mr Meibusch said.


OMRON Releases Hand Gesture Recognition Software with Improved Hand Shape Recognition Accuracy



OMRON Corporation today launched "Hand Gesture V2," new image sensing software that allows users to interact with machines in a natural manner. With a wider range of recognizable angles -- ±30 degrees left-right and ±20 degrees up-down -- OMRON's new software enables users to manipulate machines using more natural types of hand gestures. "Hand Gesture V2" also includes a new fingertip position detection function, enabling it to also recognize a user's hand gestures for mouse pointer movements.

OMRON's "Hand Gesture V2" will be unveiled at CEATEC JAPAN 2013 to be held October 1-5 at the Makuhari Messe fair site. In addition to the display of this new product at the OMRON Booth, OMRON will also hold a new technology and new products seminar entitled "Gesture Recognition Technology and Its Applications" at Exhibition Hall 3 of the CEATEC venue beginning at 3:30 pm on October 2.


125 years ago: Daimler and Steinway founded the Daimler Motor Company in New York

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* Daimler became the first European car manufacturer in the United States of America
* Initially stationary and marine engines, followed in 1905 by the “American Mercedes” passenger car.

On 29 September 1888, piano manufacturer William Steinway established the Daimler Motor Company on Long Island, New York. Thus began the history of Daimler in North America, 125 years ago – just two years after the birth of the automobile. The aim was to produce stationary and marine engines in the United States according to a patent owned by Gottlieb Daimler.


NISSAN ANNOUNCES THE NISSAN ART AWARD 2013 GRAND PRIZE WINNER

“Inner Water”

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today announced the Grand Prize awardee of the inaugural Nissan Art Awards, recognizing exceptional work by a Japanese artist.

The 2013 edition of the biennial Nissan Art Award focuses on contemporary art. In a preliminary round last May, eight finalists were chosen by an international jury, with their respective works placed on exhibition at the Nissan Art Award 2013 Exhibition in Yokohama, which started on September 18. After a final round of deliberations by the judges on September 25, Nissan awarded the first Grand Prize to Ms. Aiko Miyanaga. The artist received a trophy created by Kohei Nawa, one of Japan's leading contemporary artists, plus a cash award of five million yen.


Back to the 70s with Mr. Bean’s classic Mini.

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Automotive legends from the 1970s and 1980s will line up for the start of the twelfth 'Creme 21 Youngtimer Rally' in Spa, Belgium on 25 September 2013. Taking central stage will be BMW Group Classic’s classic Mini Mark III, conspicuous not just because of its vibrant 'Citron' yellow paintwork but also because of its colourful TV history. It is one of the classic Minis driven by actor and car enthusiast Rowan Atkinson in his role as Mr. Bean in the British comedy series of the same name.

The participating Mini was built in 1974, but it wasn’t until the 1990s it became famous as a central character in the Mr. Bean series. A total of 14 episodes of the series were filmed between 1989 and 1995, in which the character played by Atkinson had several comic adventures and near misses behind the wheel of his distinctive black-bonneted yellow Mini.


NISSAN TO SHOW AUTONOMOUS DRIVE VEHICLES AT CEATEC JAPAN 2013 EXHIBITION



CEATEC 2013 will be the first public demonstration of Nissan's revolutionary Autonomous Drive technology in Japan

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. will showcase its breakthrough Autonomous Drive technology at CEATEC JAPAN 2013. It will be the first time that Nissan's new Autonomous Drive (AD) system will be demonstrated to the general public.

The annual CEATEC exhibition, Japan's largest IT and electronics exhibition, will be held at the Makuhari Messe convention center outside Tokyo from October 1-5, 2013. The demonstration of Nissan's AD system fits in with CEATEC JAPAN 2013's main theme: “Smart Innovation—Technology for Future Society and Lifestyles."


Fujifilm launches instax mini 90 Neo Classic



—a stylish, high-end "instax" instant camera with improved image quality and a variety of photography modes

FUJIFILM Corporation (President: Shigehiro Nakajima) will launch a high-end model in the series of instax mini instant cameras that offer credit card-sized photo prints instantly. The new instax mini 90 Neo Classic has a premium, camera design with a full range of camera functions. The mini 90 stands apart from the previous "cute" image that instax had built up in the past and features a variety of shooting modes for various scenes and applications for users to enjoy.


Diesel or Electric? Study Offers Advice for Owners of Urban Delivery Truck Fleets



For owners of delivery truck fleets who may be trying to decide between electric or diesel vehicles, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology are offering some advice: comparisons of the energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and total cost of ownership for the medium-duty vehicles.


September 25, 2013

Acupuncture or counselling plus usual care ‘may improve’ depression symptoms



Acupuncture or counselling, provided alongside usual care, could benefit patients with depression, according to a study by researchers at the University of York.

The study, conducted by a team led by Dr Hugh MacPherson, of the Department of Health Sciences at York, found that in a primary care setting, combining acupuncture or counselling with usual care had some benefits after three months for patients with recurring depression.




Alpine archaeology reveals high life through the ages



An international team of archaeologists led by experts from the University of York has uncovered evidence of human activity in the high slopes of the French Alps dating back over 8000 years.

The 14-year study in the Parc National des Écrins in the southern Alps is one of the most detailed archaeological investigations carried out at high altitudes. It reveals a story of human occupation and activity in one of the world’s most challenging environments from the Mesolithic to the Post-Medieval period.  


VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OPENS NEW VEHICLE PRODUCTION PLANT IN FOSHAN, SOUTHERN CHINA



The Volkswagen Group and its joint venture FAW-Volkswagen today inaugurated the new vehicle production plant in Foshan, Southern China. In just under two years, the Group has constructed a highly-advanced, resource-efficient car manufacturing facility at the new location in Guangdong province. First-stage production capacity is 300,000 vehicles per year. It is planned to double capacity in the medium term. The first vehicle to leave the assembly line in Foshan is a seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf.


Tiny Camera Records Details of Scene without Losing Sight of the Big Picture



New system could be used to build a camera that pans and zooms with no moving parts

To capture all the details of a crime scene, you might take many photos at close range. To get the whole scene at once, you could use a wide-angle or fisheye lens; but without an especially large lens you would be sacrificing the fine resolution that would help you catch that partial footprint you might otherwise have missed. Now a new type of miniature camera system promises to give users a big picture view without sacrificing high-resolution. Researchers from the University of California, San Diego will describe their novel device at The Optical Society’s (OSA) Annual Meeting, Frontiers in Optics (FiO) 2013, taking place Oct. 6-10 in Orlando, Fla.


With carbon nanotubes, a path to flexible, low-cost sensors



Researchers at the Technische Universität München (TUM) are showing the way toward low-cost, industrial-scale manufacturing of a new family of electronic devices. A leading example is a gas sensor that could be integrated into food packaging to gauge freshness, or into compact wireless air-quality monitors. New types of solar cells and flexible transistors are also in the works, as well as pressure and temperature sensors that could be built into electronic skin for robotic or bionic applications. All can be made with carbon nanotubes, sprayed like ink onto flexible plastic sheets or other substrates.


The enigmatic Otway odd-clawed spider - Progradungula otwayensis



(Progradungula otwayensis Milledge, 1997, Gradungulidae, Araneae): Natural history, first description of the female and micro-computed tomography of the male palpal organ

The recently described cribellate gradungulid Progradungula otwayensis Milledge, 1997 is endemic to the Great Otway National Park (Victoria, Australia) and known from only one male and a few juvenile specimens. In a recent survey we recorded 47 specimens at several localities across the western part of the Great Otway National park. Our field data suggest that this species is dependant on the microclimate in the hollows of old myrtle beech trees since other hollow trees were very much less inhabited. Furthermore, we describe the female for the first time and study the male palpal organ by using X-ray microtomography. The female genitalia are characterized by eight spermathecae which are grouped in two quartets. The spermophor resembles the general organization of gradungulids, but is similar to Kaiya Gray, 1987 by a convoluted appearance within the embolus. The muscle 30 is located in the cymbium and resembles the organization of other non-entelegyne Araneomorphae.


When the going gets tough, the materialistic go shopping



Materialistic people experience more stress from traumatic events such as terrorist attacks and are more likely to spend compulsively as a result, according to an international study led by a Michigan State University business professor.

These possession-driven folks tend to have lower self-esteem than others, said Ayalla Ruvio, assistant professor of marketing in MSU's Broad College of Business.