The Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, (IISc) has been facilitating research at some of its facilities by people in dire need of the right facilities. A prominent one among them is the lab of the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering or better known as CeNSE.

When many a researcher in the country wants to test a hypothesis or wants to verify data relating to nano particles, they have two places to turn to in the country. One, IIT-Bombay and the other CeNSE at IISc. The two are among the only eight facilities with advanced nanotech research laboratories in the world. The other such labs are those in Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, Cornell University, and Purdue University among others.

Speaking of those who have been using or have used the facilities, said Rudra Pratap, chairperson, CeNSE: "There are about 300 universities across the country. We are only one of the two in the country and over 300 people from outside the IISc have used the facility." About 500-odd studies have been done at the facility.

The four year old facility, set up at a cost of Rs 150 crore, has helped many a company in its endeavours by allowing access to its labs for a fee. According to IISc sources, an individual user may need to pay Rs 2,500 for using the lab for one hour. It could go up to Rs 5,000 depending on the equipment, and if it's an individual or an organisation using the lab and its other facilities, said a researcher who has used the lab.

The researchers who have been using the facilities include those from the healthcare sector across disciplines, including homoeopathy.

We have received a request from a researcher in Ayurveda now who wants to do some studies at the nano level, added Pratap. The largest number of studies at the facility have been by researchers from the field of electronics.

Debunking allegations The lab has also now helped debunk the allegations against homoeopathy that it is not effective or that in higher dilutions, it only has a placebo effect.

But, a two-year-long research by Dr E S Rajendran, director of Vinayaka Missions Homoeopathy Medical College, Salem has proved that they do contain nano-particles even at higher dilutions. This could open up vistas of research in future, said Dr Rajendran. A paper on his research will be presented at the World Homoeopathy Summit to be held in Mumbai.

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IISc opens up its nano science lab for external researchers

IMAGE:This crossbar array was produced with the meniscus-mask lithography technique invented at Rice University. The crossbar wires are made of silicon dioxide. The scale bar is 10 microns; the inset... view more

Credit: Tour Group/Rice University

HOUSTON - (April 6, 2015) - Water is the key component in a Rice University process to reliably create patterns of metallic and semiconducting wires less than 10 nanometers wide.

The technique by the Rice lab of chemist James Tour builds upon its discovery that the meniscus - the curvy surface of water at its edge - can be an effective mask to make nanowires.

The Rice team of Tour and graduate students Vera Abramova and Alexander Slesarev have now made nanowires between 6 and 16 nanometers wide from silicon, silicon dioxide, gold, chromium, tungsten, titanium, titanium dioxide and aluminum. They have also made crossbar structures of conducting nanowires from one or more of the materials.

A paper on their technique, called meniscus-mask lithography, has been published online by the American Chemical Society journal Nano Letters.

The process is promising for the semiconductor industry as it seeks to make circuits ever smaller. State-of-the-art integrated circuit fabrication allows for signal wires that approach 10 nanometers, visible only with powerful microscopes. These are the paths that connect the billions of transistors in modern electronic devices.

"This could have huge ramifications for chip production since the wires are easily made to sub-10-nanometer sizes," Tour said of the Rice process. "There's no other way in the world to do this en masse on a surface."

Current approaches to making such tiny wires take several paths. Lithography, the standard method for etching integrated circuits, is approaching the physical limits of its ability to shrink them further. Bulk synthesis of semiconducting and metallic nanowires is also possible, but the wires are difficult to position in integrated circuits.

Water's tendency to adhere to surfaces went from an annoyance to an advantage when the Rice researchers found they could use it as a mask to make patterns. The water molecules gather wherever a raised pattern joins the target material and forms a curved meniscus created by the surface tension of water.

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Water makes wires even more nano

IMAGE:This schematic shows the synthesis of organic-inorganic shish kebab-like nanohybrids composed of periodic nanodisk-like kebabs. view more

Credit: Credit: Zhiqun Lin

Researchers have developed a novel technique for crafting nanometer-scale necklaces based on tiny star-like structures threaded onto a polymeric backbone. The technique could provide a new way to produce hybrid organic-inorganic shish kebab structures from semiconducting, magnetic, ferroelectric and other materials that may afford useful nanoscale properties.

The researchers have so far made nano-necklaces with up to 55 nanodisks. The template-based process grows amphiphilic worm-like diblock copolymers through a living polymerization technique in which the polymeric structures serve as nanoreactors that form laterally connecting nanocrystalline structures based on a variety of precursor materials. The nanodisks average about ten nanometers in diameter and four nanometers in thickness, and are about two nanometers apart.

"Our goal was to develop an unconventional, yet robust, strategy for making a large variety of organic-inorganic hybrid shish kebabs," said Zhiqun Lin, a professor in the School of Materials Science and Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. "This is a general technique for making these unusual structures. Now that we have demonstrated it, we believe there is a nearly endless list of materials we can use to craft these nano-necklaces."

The research was supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the National Science Foundation. The results were scheduled to be published on March 27 in the journal Science Advances, published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

The one-dimensional nano-necklaces could have optical, electronic, optoelectronic, sensing and magnetic applications. The researchers have so far produced structures from cadmium selenide (CdSe), barium titanate (BaTiO3) and iron oxide (Fe3O4), but believe many other materials - including gold--could also be used.

The technique begins with formation of inclusion complexes made of alpha-cyclodextrins, cyclic oligosaccharides composed of six glucose units. The alpha-cyclodextrins, which are hollow in the center, thread themselves onto a polyethylene glycol (PEG) chain in an established self-assembly process. The polymer backbone on which the alpha-cyclodextrins are threaded is capped by a larger stoppering agent to retain the tiny structures.

Each alpha-cyclodextrin has 18 hydroxyl (OH) groups that can be converted into bromine (Br) groups through an esterification process. Diblock polymer "nanoworm" structures are then grown from these bromine groups in solution. Formed from poly(acrylic acid)-block polystyrene (PAA-b-PS), the worm-like diblock copolymers are made up of inner poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) blocks that are hydrophilic, and outer polystyrene (PS) blocks that are hydrophobic. Because so many diblocks grow on each alpha-cyclodextrin, their crowding stretches the polymer backbone.

Finally, metallic ion precursors are preferentially incorporated into the space occupied by inner PAA blocks of worm-like diblock copolymer nanoreactors, forming crystals. These crystals connect the once separate structures, creating the nano-necklaces - which resemble tiny centipedes.

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Nanoscale worms provide new route to nano-necklace structures

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Newswise To quantify rare tumor markers that will allow oncologists to make prognoses and select therapies, John X.J. Zhang, PhD led a team of bioengineers from the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth in demonstrating a novel system that couples nano-engineered particles and microfluidic chips for capturing and manipulating circulating tumor cells (CTCs). The microscale immunoassay can be further interfaced with a fluorescent microscope for cancer cell imaging. Their paper, "Microscale Magnetic Field Modulation for Enhanced Capture and Distribution of Rare Circulating Tumor Cells," was published in Scientific Reports, Nature Publishing Group.

"This project demonstrates that a relatively simple blood test may eventually be able to provide unambiguous information to doctors about particular cancers in individuals," said Zhang.

Live cells represent vital model systems for studying organism development and human disease. Invasive cancers shed tumor cells into the blood and, by detecting those cells at an early stage, physicians will be able to determine a patient's prognosis and best alternatives for therapies. The capture and immunophenotyping of CTCs shed by cancers at an early stage, and postulated as the mechanism of development of recalcitrant metastatic disease, is envisioned to revolutionize risk assessment, treatment selection, response monitoring, and development of novel therapies.

Zhang's team focused on creating a new interface between living cells and hybrid microsystems, which enabled rigorous design, modeling, manufacturing, and validation of high-performance and massively deployable bio-analytical microsystems for point-of-care and globally-relevant diagnostic applications.

"The concept is to use novel cell-machine interfaces, integrated sensing, actuation and biomarker recognition functionalities to isolate these rare cells (1 per 109 hematologic cells) from whole blood to determine malignancy unambiguously," Zhang said. "We will base the quantitative assessment on multiple tumor markers."

The Dartmouth group demonstrated they can effectively combine the benefits of immunomagnetic assay with microfluidic technology for high-throughput CTC screening. This resulted in a high sensitivity assay for increased cell capture rate and reduced cell aggregation that will be suitable for down-stream analyses of CTCs at the single cell level.

Zhang's goal is to bring this technology from the bench to the clinics, enabling doctors to diagnose and manage cancer via simple blood tests. Operationalizing this technology will potentially increase the cure rate for cancers such as breast cancer.

Zhang is Professor at Dartmouth's Thayer School of Engineering. His work in cancer is facilitated by Dartmouth's Norris Cotton Cancer Center where he is a Member of the Cancer Imaging & Radiobiology Research Program.

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Immunomagnetic Assay On-a-Chip Captures, Analyzes Circulating Tumor Cells

Nebraskas fifth annual NanoDays will take place March 28, 1 4 p.m. in Lincoln at Gateway Mall: 60th and O Streets.

NanoDays is a nationwide festival of educational programs about nanoscale science and engineering.

Nanoscientists transform our world with materials smaller than the eye can see, and at NanoDays, 10 interactive demonstrations and three games will introduce attendees to the magic-like properties of nanomaterials.

The first 100 student attendees who visit each of the free stations will receive an I Heart Nano t-shirt, and the elementary school and middle school with the most attendees will win a nanoscience education kit.

At NanoDays, University of Nebraska-Lincoln faculty, staff, and students along with local science educators offer fun learning experiences for both children and adults. Event demonstrations show how researchers use the miniscule world of atoms, molecules and nanoscale forces to invent many exciting technologies such as the invisibility cloak and floor tiles that generate electricity when walked on.

The event is co-hosted by Nebraska EPSCoR, the University of Nebraskas Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) and the Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience (NCMN).

NanoDays is organized by the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net), and takes place nationally from March 28 through April 4, 2015. This community-based event is the largest public outreach effort in nanoscale informal science education and involves science museums, research centers, and universities from Puerto Rico to Alaska.

Research at a nano level is done in many areas including physics, chemistry, material sciences, engineering, biology, and medicine.

Nanoscientists study and make new applications that improve computers, medical treatments, energy efficiency and more. The Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) and the Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience (NCMN) are on the forefront of research in one of the highest-priority national programs, the National Nanotechnology Initiative.

For more information about NanoDays or nanoscience, visit http://bit.ly/nenano15.

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Nebraska's Fifth Annual NanoDays In Lincoln

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) March 20, 2015

Cavitation Technologies, Inc. (CTi) (OTCBB:CVAT); announced today that the Desmet Ballestra Group, CTi's strategic partner since 2010 and licensee of the company's vegetable oil refining technology, has entered into a new system trial agreement with a canola oil refinery in Canada. This oil refinery processes approximately 500MTPD of canola oil and Desmet anticipates system installation in the first quarter of CTis fiscal year 2016.

With system installations in soy refineries worldwide, this order marks CTis first system trial in canola oil and provides a new business opportunity for companys line of products in edible oil processing and refining.

Roman Gordon, companys CTO comments, We are very excited to have a system trial at canola processing refinery. Furthermore, this system trial comes from a repeat customer in North America. This customer had an opportunity to evaluate significant benefits that our technology brings in soy oil refining and chose to install our system at their canola refining plant. Our invaluable relationship with our licensee, the Desmet Ballestra Group, provides our company with very strong business partnership with global technology leader."

About CTI Founded in 2007, the company designs and manufactures state-of-the-art, flow-through, robust devices and systems and develops processing technologies for use in edible oil refining, renewable fuel production, expeditious petroleum upgrading, algal oil extraction, alcoholic beverage enhancement and water treatment. As an add-on to existing neutralization systems, the company's patented Nano-Reactor allows refiners to significantly reduce both processing costs and the environmental impact, by substantially reducing chemical consumption while also increasing the oil yield. More information is available at http://www.ctinanotech.com/.

About Desmet Ballestra Group The Desmet Ballestra Group is a world leader in the fields of engineering and supply of plants and equipment for the oils, fats, animal feed industries, detergents, surfactants and related chemical industries and the oleo-chemical and biodiesel industries. Desmet Ballestra possesses a great worldwide reputation, thanks to over 60 years of experience, a significant R&D capacity and the most extensive customer base in the industry. The company has sales and engineering offices in 15 countries. In May 2011, the Company signed licensing agreement with Desmet and since then Desmet has marketed and installed CTis Nano-Reactor systems in edible vegetable oil refineries around the world. In May of 2012, CTi signed a global R&D, Marketing and Technology License Agreement with Desmet, which gives CTi the flexibility to pursue new research and applications while Desmet, markets CTis technology to major clients around the world. More information is available at http://www.desmetballestra.com/ .

Forward Looking Statement The foregoing press release may contain forward-looking statements, including statements regarding, among other things, about the expectation of CTI's future business. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the Company's expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Actual results could differ materially from these forward looking statements as a result of a variety of factors including, among others, the state of the economy, the competitive environment, and the Company's performance. In light of these risks and uncertainties there can be no assurances that the forward looking statements contained in this press release will in fact transpire or prove to be accurate.

Contact

Cavitation Technologies, Inc: Jessica Steidinger Jessica(at)ctinanotech(dot)com (818) 718-0905

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Cavitation Technologies Receives Nano Reactor System Trial for Canada

Short Circuit Stout, Wheatstone Bridge, and Ampere Amber are three of the craft beers on tap at a micro-brewery owned by threemaybe you guessed who already?--electrical engineers.

St. Paul, MNIt was during one of many Happy Hours involving beer that electrical engineers Jake Johnson, Jeff Moriarty, and George Kellerman decided to take the plunge and start their own open source craft brewery in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The electrical-engineering themed brewery's robot logo and wall mural (shown here) were created by artist Ben Courneya.

That was back in 2010, but their interest in craft beers had been brewing ever since earning BSEEs from the University of Minnesota in 2006. Moriarty and Johnson started home brewing the summer after graduation, using extract kits on the kitchen stove. I also took my first trip to England, Scotland, and Ireland at that time and was able to experience all their delicious beers, said Moriarty. I just really liked all the flavors of craft beer.

Once the idea of starting a brewery had moved past the dreaming-about-it-stage, Moriarty and Johnson scaled that home brew operation to a 1/2bbl (15.5 gallons or 1 keg) pilot nano brewery, complete with all the equipment of a larger, commercial brewery.

The micro brewery offers tours of the brew process (complete with all the technical details an engineer could ever want), along with beer tastings in its taproom.

The teams engineering skills proved instrumental in getting the business off the ground, with a minimum of burps in the process. "A significant aspect of engineering is learning how to think and analyze data, which was a huge help to us in launching the business, especially as brewing is very numbers-intensive, said Moriarty.

Engineering also teaches you how to accomplish tasks with a risk-based approach as well as completing tasks and trials in discrete, small iterations as well as using process control., he added. Both are vital when it comes to designing and consistently producing a beer.

The biggest challenge for the team was raising the necessary capital for their startup. Breweries are very capital-intensive businesses, and Moriarty said that being a young team meant it took a lot of time to convince people to invest money in the startup.

Describing the fund-raising as an unpleasant and difficult period, Moriarty said that he and is co-founders made wise use of the time refining their plans and working on the beers. When you are so passionate about something and know it can be a success, it becomes an emotional roller coaster trying to raise the money you need, he said.

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Tin Whiskers Brewing Company: Engineered to Perfection

EBR Staff Writer Published 17 March 2015

US-based nanotechnology research and development firm Nano Labs has formed a joint venture (JV) with Mexican firm DerTek to produce biofuels in North America.

The JV will focus on the research and development, marketing, and production of biofuels in Mexico before expanding to other countries in the continent.

DerTek will share its catalyzer technology to produce biofuels from organic oils using non-food sector raw materials.

The oils from different crops like the Castor Oil or Ricinus Communis plant can be used as a substitute for diesel fuel.

With an annual capacity to produce more than 25 million liters of biofuel, DerTek hopes to cash in on the recent opening of market in Mexico.

Nano Lab president Bernardo Chavarria said: "With this joint venture, our goal is to bring value and new opportunities in the energy sector by developing and manufacturing better fuels at a lower cost and at an ecofriendly way at the same time reducing Carbon emissions."

DerTek and Nano Labs will each own 50% stake in the JV.

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Nano Labs, DerTek form JV for biofuels production in North America

March 18, 2015

Nano piano concept: Arrays of gold, pillar-supported bowtie nanoantennas (bottom left) can be used to record distinct musical notes, as shown in the experimentally obtained dark-field microscopy images (bottom right). These particular notes were used to compose "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." (Credit: University of Illinois)

Brett Smith for redOrbit.com @ParkstBrett

Researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign recently open the door new information processing and storage by have demonstrating the first-ever recording of optically-encoded audio onto a miniscule structure called a non-magnetic plasmonic nanostructure.

The chips dimensions are roughly equivalent to the thickness of human hair, explained lead researcher Kimani Toussaint, an associate professor of mechanical science and engineering.

According to an article published in the journal Scientific Reports, Toussaints team utilized an array of novel gold, pillar-supported bowtie nanoantennas (pBNAs) to store sound and audio files. The report noted that the storage capacity of pBNAs is around 5,600 times bigger than the magnetic film used for analog data storage.

[VIDEO: Rare goblin shark found off Australia]

Arrays of gold, pillar-supported bowtie nanoantennas can be used to record distinct musical notes. (Credit: University of Illinois)

Data storage is one interesting area to think about, Toussaint said. For example, one can consider applying this type of nanotechnology to enhancing the niche, but still important, analog technology used in the area of archival storage such as using microfiche.

In addition, our work holds potential for on-chip, plasmonic-based information processing, Toussaint added.

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Nano piano's melody could mean storage breakthrough

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (UVa)-- From 3-D printing to game development to Nano Fun giant balloon sculptures and leading-edge research exhibits in alternative energy, transportation and health care, the University of Virginias Engineering Open House showcases how engineers make a difference in the world.

Prospective students and the public are invited to the event, to be held March 21, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., in and around Thornton Hall, the home of U.Va.s School of Engineering and Applied Science.

The event, which draws more than 1,000 visitors each spring, allows prospective students, parents, educators and all others who are interested in engineering to meet faculty and staff; talk with current students; tour buildings, labs and classrooms; and visit exhibits that highlight faculty and student research.

At this years Open House, there will be opportunities to explore the field of nanomedicine and to visit exhibits on the ChemE car, biorenewable chemicals and fuels, Smart Homes, game development, spacecraft design, electric vehicles and exhibits like From Dance to Robots: Style-Based Abstractions for Human-Inspired Autonomous Systems, among many other things.

The days activities also will include a presentation by Engineering Dean James Aylor and sessions on admissions by George Cahen, professor, director of experiential programs and outreach and associate dean of undergraduate programs, and Jeannine Lalonde, senior assistant dean of undergraduate admission.

There also will be overview sessions on various engineering disciplines and a presentation by a former astronaut, engineering professor Kathy Thornton, on the Sights and Sounds of Space Flight. Engineering students will lead tours, including Rice Hall and the 3-D lab in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

The Center for Diversity in Engineering also will host special programs and information sessions.

The Engineering School Open House is free and open to the public.

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UVa Today: Engineering Open House

XSNano814
Why do I need to add an additive to fuel oil? Science has made some astonishing advancements over the past few decades in the field of lubricants and fuels. ...

By: Kevin Carpenter

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XSNano814 - Video

AUDIO:Arrays of gold, pillar-supported bowtie nanoantennas can be used to record distinct musical notes, in this case, "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. " view more

Credit: University of Illinois

Researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have demonstrated the first-ever recording of optically encoded audio onto a non-magnetic plasmonic nanostructure, opening the door to multiple uses in informational processing and archival storage.

"The chip's dimensions are roughly equivalent to the thickness of human hair," explained Kimani Toussaint, an associate professor of mechanical science and engineering, who led the research.

Specifically, the photographic film property exhibited by an array of novel gold, pillar-supported bowtie nanoantennas (pBNAs)--previously discovered by Toussaint's group--was exploited to store sound and audio files. Compared with the conventional magnetic film for analog data storage, the storage capacity of pBNAs is around 5,600 times larger, indicating a vast array of potential storage uses.

To demonstrate its abilities to store sound and audio files, the researchers created a musical keyboard or "nano piano," using the available notes to play the short song, "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."

"Data storage is one interesting area to think about," Toussaint said. "For example, one can consider applying this type of nanotechnology to enhancing the niche, but still important, analog technology used in the area of archival storage such as using microfiche. In addition, our work holds potential for on-chip, plasmonic-based information processing."

The researchers demonstrated that the pBNAs could be used to store sound information either as a temporally varying intensity waveform or a frequency varying intensity waveform. Eight basic musical notes, including middle C, D, and E, were stored on a pBNA chip and then retrieved and played back in a desired order to make a tune.

"A characteristic property of plasmonics is the spectrum," said Hao Chen, a former postdoctoral researcher in Toussaint's PROBE laboratory and the first author of the paper, "Plasmon-Assisted Audio Recording," appearing in the Nature Publishing Group's Scientific Reports. "Originating from a plasmon-induced thermal effect, well-controlled nanoscale morphological changes allow as much as a 100-nm spectral shift from the nanoantennas. By employing this spectral degree-of-freedom as an amplitude coordinate, the storage capacity can be improved. Moreover, although our audio recording focused on analog data storage, in principle it is still possible to transform to digital data storage by having each bowtie serve as a unit bit 1 or 0. By modifying the size of the bowtie, it's feasible to further improve the storage capacity."

The team previously demonstrated that pBNAs experience reduced thermal conduction in comparison to standard bowtie nanoantennas and can easily get hot when irradiated by low-powered laser light. Each bowtie antenna is approximately 250 nm across in dimensions, with each supported on 500-nm tall silicon dioxide posts. A consequence of this is that optical illumination results in subtle melting of the gold, and thus a change in the overall optical response. This shows up as a difference in contrast under white-light illumination.

Continued here:

Nano piano's lullaby could mean storage breakthrough

March 13, 2015 // Paul Buckley

European Union researchers, who were involved in project GECCO have for the first time created a '3D nano-LED' for white light, will see their work continued under the cooperation with Germany's Epitaxy Competence Center - ec.

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Following the end of the funded GECCO project which investigated 3D GaN for high efficiency solid state lighting applications ec, which was opened by Osram Opto Semiconductors and Germany's Institute of Semiconductor Technology, Technical University of Braunschweig, will extend the development work for industry.

The ec has been established as a two million euro joint venture between the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture, Braunschweig University of Technology and Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbH. The Center's main focus is on GaN technology, which underpins potential applications in optoelectronics, LED and laser technologies as well as power electronics and sensors.

All of these technologies are essential building blocks for the automotive industry, the field of mechanical engineering, as well as medical and other application areas.

ec, which was formed as a Gallium Nitride Research Center to increase the importance of the gallium nitride technology (GaN) in Germany, is focusing on stimulating the evolution of epitaxy production methods in Germany while also providing the infrastructure for nano-analysis and processing techniques. The ec builds a bridge between basic research at universities on the one hand and product-oriented research and development in the industry on the other.

GaN-based white LED technology are being designed into car headlights as as as LED lamps and streetlighting.

"GaN-based white LED technology will continue to gain market share," said Aldo Kamper, CEO of Osram Opto Semiconductors, in his speech at the opening ceremony. At the same time efficient processes are always asked: "Technological development towards even greater performance and lower cost of production has to go faster. This only works if industry and academia work together closely; in research projects or with ec as a center of excellence. In addition, the employees of such centers combine enormous expertise and form a pool of talent in the field of semiconductor technology".

"In the future we plan to expand epitaxy further and further develop the infrastructure for nano-analysis and systematic processing," explained Dr.-Ing. Snke Fndling, head of ec, further plans for the center of excellence.

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Germany's Epitaxy Competence Center focuses on 3D nano-LED

Sharjah: To combat the harsh side effects of cancer, a team of professors and students from the American University of Sharjah (AUS) are developing nano-chemotherapy capsules that will target cancerous cells.

Dr Galeb Husseini, professor of chemical engineering at AUS, who established the Ultrasound in Cancer Research Group, said the treatment will help fight chemotherapy side effects such as hair loss, leukopenia and gastrointestinal problems (including nausea) to name a few.

The professor explained that the side effects of chemotherapy are primarily caused by the non-specific nature of the treatment as the drug can kill normal and cancerous cells alike.

For this reason we are designing nano-cells, that are smaller than human cells, and putting chemo in them. The idea is to inject them to the IV, they will enter the veins and so spread everywhere in the body, but the chemo will remain in the capsules. Using ultrasound in certain areas will release the chemo content from the capsules directly to the cancerous cells.

He said by using this method, only the cancerous cells will be killed and not the normal, healthy cells.

Dr Husseini and the team of researchers, working at the recently established drug delivery laboratory at AUS believe using the nano-cells will minimise the side affects of chemotherapy.

He said this treatment can work on different types of cancers such as prostate cancer and breast cancer to name a few, but it cannot be used on leukaemia, lung cancer and brain cancer.

It cant be used on leukaemia because the cancerous cells would be everywhere and cannot be targeted it also cant be used on brain cancer because ultrasound cannot penetrate the human skull.

Dr Husseini said to be effective, many of these capsules-which he said look like tiny balls have to be inserted in the areas where the cancer has spread.

We are currently in the in vitro stage where we are testing the capsules through tubes. We have seen promising results from one of the chemicals. I cant reveal which chemical yet because we are now still on the patent.

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AUS research to combat chemo side effects

Precision motion leader PI (Physik Instrumente) has introduced their new air bearing stage and system capabilities at this year's Photonics West conference, to complement their comprehensive range of piezo nano positioning stages and hexapod micro positioning systems.

With the 2014 acquisition of Nelson Air Bearing Products of New Hampshire, PI is building on over 200 man-years of in-house air bearing experience to offer linear, planar XY, and rotary air bearing stages to serve both the research and industrial markets. The PI group offers comprehensive precision air bearing motion control and positioning products and systems, which are inherently frictionless, for smooth accurate motion.

By combining extremely responsive engineering consultative support and lean manufacturing techniques, PI is able to provide the highest quality customer service. Maximum performance of precision systems is achieved thru extensive design and analysis expertise, using equipment built in-house with proprietary techniques. A variety of precision air bearing products and integrated positioning systems are available from motorized linear and XY stages, rotary tables and stages, spindles, non-motorized components, and machining systems.

Why Air Bearings? As opposed to mechanical bearings, air-bearing positioners literally float on air, providing completely frictionless motion resulting in negligible hysteresis or reversal error, better straightness, flatness and velocity stability, which are ideal prerequisites for high-end industrial inspection and manufacturing operations. Similar motion quality can only be provided by magnetic levitation systems and flexure guided piezo systems, both technologies that PI also offers.

Extension of Existing Nanopositioning Capabilities With 4 decades of experience in piezo nanopositioning systems design and motorized precision positioning equipment, the new air bearing systems capabilities are a natural and logical extension of PI's precision motion offerings.

PI is now in the unique position to cover the whole motion range from finger-tip sized nano-positioners to large scale stages with long travel ranges, through a plethora of different drive and guiding systems tailored exactly to the customer's needs.

About PI PI is a leading manufacturer of precision motion control equipment, piezo motors, air bearing stages and hexapod parallel-kinematics for semiconductor applications, photonics, bio-nano-technology and medical engineering. PI has been developing and manufacturing standard & custom precision products with piezoceramic and electromagnetic drives for 4 decades. The company has been ISO 9001 certified since 1994 and provides innovative, high-quality solutions for OEM and research. PI is present worldwide with eight subsidiaries, R&D / engineering on 3 continents and total staff of 800+.

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Air Bearing Stage / Systems Introduced By PI At Photonics West

The UK Space Agency's next CubeSat mission, AlSat Nano, is starting to take shape, following the selection of the mission's payloads. The suite of 3 payloads will be developed by UK academic-industrial partnerships that will use the mission for rapid and cost-effective demonstration of new and innovative space technologies.

AlSat Nano is a joint space mission between the UK Space Agency and Algerian Space Agency (ASAL). In March 2014 the UK Space Agency and ASAL signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under which the two parties agreed to enhance collaboration in space programmes.

A specific action identified following the MoU was the establishment of a joint educational CubeSat development programme to be delivered by Surrey Space Centre (SSC), utilising its ties and heritage in the field.

The mission's payloads include:

SpaceMag-PV Boom This payload could significantly improve the range of science experiments that a CubeSat could carry by making advances in the field of booms - arms used to hold instrument sensors as far as possible from the spacecraft body to minimise interference.

SpaceMag-PV Boom will flight test the world's longest retractable CubeSat-compatible boom which will be able to deploy up to 2 metres in length from a volume the size of a cigarette packet. This technology could also form the basis of de-orbit systems for future missions.

The payload also carries a magnetometer, one of the most compact of its class, to carry out measurements of the Earth's magnetic field. Also on the payload will be RadFET radiation monitors, and test tokens of a revolutionary flexible solar cell material. The payload is led by Oxford Space Systems Ltd, collaborating with partners including RAL Space and Bartington Instruments Ltd.

C3D2 C3D2 is a highly customisable CubeSat camera offering three fields of view and innovative on-board software processing capabilities. The payload will also be a remote experiment of the Open Science Laboratory - an award-winning suite of remote experiments that supports distance learning students studying science and engineering.

C3D2 will offer these students the chance to operate a real payload on an orbiting spacecraft. The payload development is led by the Open University Centre for Electronic Imaging with sensor hardware provided by e2v Ltd and electronics from XCAM Ltd.

Thin Film Solar Cell Thin Film Solar Cell is a novel and potentially step-changing solar cell structure which is directly deposited on cover glass just 1/10th of a millimeter thick.

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Newswise The Water Research Initiative of the Institute for Molecular Engineering has added a sixth research project to the original five that received funding last year.

The six projects are for research on new materials and methods to make clean water more accessible and less expensive. These seed projects involve physicists, chemists, geoscientists, environmentalists and molecular engineers working in collaborations involving scientists at the University of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory, and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel.

The concept was to focus initially on scientific and technical matters: applying chemistry and nano-materials to issues pertaining to water purification and sustainability, said Steven Sibener, initiative director and the Carl William Eisendrath Distinguished Service Professor in Chemistry and the James Franck Institute.

Scientists can engineer nano-materials structures built from ensembles of molecules or atoms on a scale 10 to 50 times larger than that of single molecules so that they can be tuned to meet the demands of a particular task. One such objective is water filtration.

Current filtration methods use membranes to remove salts and minerals from water. But as a result of human activity, water is contaminated by harmful organic materials and micro-organisms and these are not removed by present membrane technology, said Moshe Gottlieb, who heads the Ben-Gurion University arm of the initiative.

Mathematically modeling patterns

The newest project, involving Argonne and BGU, will benefit agriculture, green roofs, bioswales, and engineered installations for storm water management. The project builds on the work of BGU scientists, who have developed a mathematical model that accurately represents patterns of plant and root growth under desert water conditions.

Project scientists aim to expand this model for application to environments that contain two major vegetation types, such as woody plants and trees, or shrubs and grasses. The BGU model was developed in Israels Negev Desert, but it might also prove useful in more temperate environments. Chicagos green roofs, for example, also experience water scarcity.

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Institute for Molecular Engineering Pursuing Six Water Research Projects

COSTA MESA, Calif (PRWEB) March 11, 2015

Airwolf 3D today announced Wolfbite Nano, a premium solution specifically engineered to bond polylactic acid (PLA) plastic parts to a glass 3D printer build plate without liftingalso known in the industry as warpage,and to enable smooth release of objects after printing. This new solution works well with heated and non-heated beds on all types and brands of the 3D printers utilizing glass printing surfaces.

Weve developed an industry-changing solution that is easy to apply, low odor and compatible with most desktop 3D printers, said Erick Wolf, co-founder, Airwolf 3D. Users will see a notable difference in the output of their 3D printed projects when using Wolfbite Nano.

PLA is the most preferred material for 3D printing because of its low heat shrinkage, biodegradability and widespread availability. However, PLA must be printed on a prepared surface for correct adhesion. A common surface treatment includes applying blue or red painters tape to a glass plate. After use, the paper tape may become damaged or require replacement. Other issues associated with printing on painters tape is difficulty in removing parts after prints and warpage from insufficient adhesion. Airwolfs new solution addresses all these issues.

WolfBite Nano is applied with an applicator brush straight onto glass, eliminating the need for tape. After applying Wolfbite Nano directly on glass, printing can commence immediately, either with a heated or room-temperature bed.

Airwolf 3D specially formulated the proprietary solution to not only promote excellent adhesion but also to make part removal easy. Parts may be removed post print by immersing the glass plate in water for a short period of time, if necessary.

As manufacturers of 3D printers that are capable of printing large parts in PLA, we are aware of the frustrations with painters tape and adhesion, said Wolf After months of research and development, we are pleased to offer a solution that will benefit nearly all desktop 3D printer users. Wolfbite Nano was developed at Airwolf 3D through collaboration with Professor Miodrag Mickey Micic, Ph.D., who is a department chairman at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif., and a well known polymer chemist.

This is a new, environmentally friendly solution for resolving the acute problem of PLA- based 3D printing, part adhesion and warpage. The solution is based on a combination of green chemistry and nanotechnology to create the best possible adhesion using compounds which are generally regarded as safe, said Micic.

Wolfbite Nano is packaged in a two fluid ounce container and comes with a foam brush applicator. It is currently available for presale on the Airwolf website at an introductory price of $19.99. Airwolf 3D will be demonstrating Wolfbite Nano at the Annual CUE Conference 2015, the largest education technology conference in California. Airwolf 3D will be in booth #461 during the 2015 CUE Conference at the Palm Springs Convention Center from March 19th through March 21st.

About Airwolf 3D Airwolf 3D is committed to manufacturing high-performance consumables, accessories and 3D printers that are fast, affordable, durable and easy to use. All 3D printers are made in America, manufactured in the companys 12,000 sq. ft. facility in Costa Mesa, Calif. Currently, Airwolf 3D printers can be found in engineering firms, government agencies and schools worldwide. For more information visit http://www.airwolf3d.com, telephone (949) 478-2933, email info@airwolf3d.com, or visit the companys showroom at 130 McCormick, Suite 106, Costa Mesa, CA 92626.

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Airwolf 3D Unveils Wolfbite Nano, Industry-Changing Adhesive Solution for Optimal PLA 3D Printing

PTI Feb 18, 2015, 04.31PM IST

(The Centre is considered)

BENGALURU: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the Centre for Nano Science Engineering at the Indian Institute of Science here.

The Centre is considered to be the most sophisticated and comprehensive cluster of micro and nano-tech laboratories in India.

It is designed to provide research and technology leadership in the areas of nano-electronics and nanotechnology, which is key to the Modi government's 'Make in India' initiative, in the field of electronics.

Modi also unveiled the foundation stone of the Centre for Brain Research at IISc, which is being established as an autonomous centre at the country's premier science institute.

He also witnessed the signing of an MoU between ONGC and M/s Super Wave Technology Pvt Ltd, envisaging development of new technology for drilling of oil and gas, an official release said.

The Prime Minister was given an overview of the research activities being carried out at IISc.

He took keen interest in initiatives in areas such as solar energy, water management, agriculture and enquired about collaborations between IISc and other institutes, it said.

Union Ministers Sadananda Gowda, Ananth Kumar and Dharmendra Pradhan were present.

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PM Narendra Modi opens Centre for Nano Science Engineering at IISc

Today's splashy media event takes Apple back to its roots (no pun intended). For example, the new MacBook, which weighs less than a kilogram (2.2 pounds) and is 1.31 centimetersat its thickest, reminds of the design and engineering qualities that made iPod nano so breathtaking and innovative 10 years ago in September. Apple CEO Tim Cook paid a little homage to predecessor Steve Jobs when remarking about the laptop: "Can you even see it?" Small size mattered when Jobs unveiled the nano, too.

Innovationand nothing resembling the clich overuse of the word todaywent into iPod nano and was demonstrated this morning in the new MacBook, which goes on sale April 10, starting at $1,299. Lust-worthy design is an Apple prerogative that is core to today's crop. But there is much more: Real cohesion around an Apple vision long lost in the distraction of Steve Jobs' illness and death and the transition that followed.

For example, everything about the day's announcements showshow Apple doesn't sell devices but a lifestyle. That's another last-decade quality lost but found again. In purest Apple lifestyle marketing, you can't just buy one thing. There are too many inter-dependencies necessitating that if you use this you will want, or even need, to use that.

Consider the new MacBook's single, USB-C port. During the intro, marketing chief Phil Schiller emphasized wireless capabilities, such as AirPlay and AirDrop, for sharing content. But to use these capabilities, you will want other Apple products. Take your pick: Apple TV, iPad Air, iPhone 6, iTunes.

Which raises another fine point often overlooked: Apple's device strategy is more about content than the cloud. The second-Jobs era is built on content connected to devices. There would be no iPod without iTunes and digital content tied to both. Ditto for iPhone.

Today's HBO NOW exclusive subscription deal is one of many. You will need Apple TV to use the service, which costs $14.99 monthly and will be available in April, just in time for Game of Thrones' return. Today, Apple slashed its media player's price to $69, making it all the more appealing to anyone wanting HBO NOW.

The company knows the value of content. iTunes store better packages digital wares, such as music mixed for the service or Extras attached to movies, as well as offers better bundles at lower costs than competitors. I see many more sale prices on movies than other online stores. Apple even sneaks out new releases Monday nights at Midnight Eastern Time, even though the company's timezone is three hours later. By contrast, rivals like Amazon and Google make potential renters or buyers wait until Tuesday.

I haven't had such visceral emotional response like this to an Apple event since last decade. The magic is back. There's some real innovation in the new MacBook, greateremphasis on connectedness and inter-dependence among the products, and stronger status lust.

That said, I have moved on. Google-branded, Motorola-made Nexus 6 anchors my digital lifestyle. I hugely prefer the phablet to Apple's smartphone. Meanwhile, as a writer, Chromebook Pixel is perfect for me. Keyboardissuperb, Chrome OS tab organization reduces distraction, and Google services' tight integration improve my research and collaboration. If I were a professional photographer, videographer, software developer, or someone dependent on desktop software or content, Pixel would be the wrong choice.

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Apple returns to its core