Nissan Almera eco-car gets a revamp

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The Almera, which was introduced in late 2011 and became the first eco-car sedan in the market, is also being offered in 84 other countries and has accumulated sales of more than a million, with 104,000 being sold in Thailand alone.

"In order to strengthen Nissan's leadership in the eco-car segment, we are staging a global debut of the new Almera in Thailand," Nissan Motor (Thailand) president Hiroyuki Yoshimoto said.

Nissan was the first automaker to launch an eco-car with the March 5-door hatchback in March 2010, and with the Almera, total eco-car sales by Nissan has already exceeded 200,000 vehicles.

Yoshimoto said the Almera boasts the largest cabin in its segment, while maintenance costs during the first 100,000 kilometres are the lowest in its class.

"Thanks to its front-wheel tread of 1,480 millimeters, a rear-wheel tread of 1,485 millimeters, and a wheelbase of 2,600 millimeters, which is relatively larger than any other subcompact models, the new Nissan Almera boasts a passenger cabin roomier than others in all dimensions. Its rear seats offer headspace and legroom found only in a D-segment sedan, while the exterior is stylishly redefined for exceptional elegance," he said.

The Almera is powered by a 79-horsepower 1.2-litre engine featuring an Idling Stop system and fuel economy of 20km/litre. The minor-change model comes with a newly designed chrome front grille, updated headlights, chrome-decorated front fog lamps, refreshed rear bumper and distinctively designed alloy wheels.

Meanwhile, the interior has been improved with a piano-black dcor, chrome-trimmed doors and handles, high-quality black-cloth cushions for all seats, a 3-spoke sporty steering wheel with an audio controls switch, and white illumination for the Multi-Information Display dashboard.

The Almera also comes with a navigation system and an audio system/DVD player with a touch-screen monitor connectable to USB, Bluetooth and other auxiliaries.

Visibility and driving confidence is enhanced with a rear-view camera, 3-spot rear backup sensors, powered side-view mirrors, smart entry system with immobiliser, a push button ignition and a powered trunk release.

For added safety, the new Almera comes with dual SRS airbags in all grades, along with ABS brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Brake Assist. Retail prices range from Bt433,000 to Bt608,000.

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Nissan Almera eco-car gets a revamp

Hino, DENSO jointly develop electric refrigerator system for heavy-duty trucks

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ABR Staff Writer Published 30 January 2014

Hino Motors, Ltd. (Hino) and DENSO Corporation (DENSO) have jointly developed the world's first electric refrigerator system for heavy-duty trucks using a hybrid unit.

This system is used in the Hino Profia, which will be released on Feb. 1, in Japan.

With the combination of Hino's hybrid powertrain system technology and DENSO's electric refrigerator system technology, the two companies have developed a high-quality refrigerator system that helps improve fuel economy, improves refrigeration performance, and is quieter when operating.

Hybrid trucks conventionally use energy generated from hybrid systems to assist the vehicle's driving. However, this new truck uses energy from hybrid unit only for the new electric refrigeration system, which saves fuel.

Heavy-duty refrigerated trucks typically require an auxiliary engine or need to use their main engine power to operate the compressor of the refrigerator. The newly developed electric refrigerator system uses energy generated while driving or regenerated energy from the hybrid unit to operate the refrigerator's compressor. This substantially reduces the amount of fuel normally used to drive the engine to operate the compressor, thus reducing CO2 emissions as well.

Compared to refrigerated trucks that use an auxiliary engine to operate the compressor, the new system is quieter, and contributes to an approximately 150kg weight reduction because it does not need an auxiliary engine.

In addition, compared with those having the main engine-driven compressor system, the new truck can operate the refrigeration compressor at a constant rotational speed using the energy supplied from hybrid system, which stabilizes the refrigeration performance and quality regardless if the truck is moving or stopped.

Trucks with main engine-driven compressor systems need to have separate refrigerator components in the engine compartment, under the floor panel, and in other places. However, the new truck uses a new integrated refrigeration unit that includes an electric compressor, condenser, and other devices. This simplified structure uses fewer tubes and wires and also is easier to maintain.

The new refrigerator system includes a stand-by unit that can be connected to an external 200-volt power source so the refrigerator temperature can be maintained while the engine off for a long period of time. The stand-by unit also has a timer function, which can pre-freeze the refrigerator room without the driver's operation. This helps reduce fuel consumption and manpower costs.

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Hino, DENSO jointly develop electric refrigerator system for heavy-duty trucks

The Internet of Vegetables: How Cyborg Plants Can Monitor Our World

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In the not too distant future, we could see cyborg plants that tell us when they need more water, what chemicals theyve been exposed to, and what parasites are eating their roots. These part-organic, part-electronic creations may even tell us how much pollution is in the air. And yes, theyll plug into the network.

Thats right: Were on our way to the Internet of Plants.

Thats the message from Andrea Vitaletti, the head of a blue-sky research group working on this very thing at a lab in Italy. The project is called PLEASED, short for PLants Employed As SEnsing Devices. Though the project is still in the early stages, Vitaletti believes plants could serve as ideal sensors, monitoring so many aspects of our environment. Plants are cheap and resilient, he argues, and they could potentially monitor many different things simultaneously.

Plants have millions of years of evolution. They are robust. They want to survive, Vitaletti says.

Andrea Vitaletti

His interest in combining plants and electronics dates to childhood, when he and his father used schematics found in an electronics magazine to build a simple circuit for generating sound from plants. He went on to pursue computer engineering at the University of Rome, where he studied algorithms for wireless networks and sensors. But the Internet of Plants idea didnt take root until he saw TED talk on plant intelligence.

Vitaletti soon called the author of the talk, University of Florence professor Stefano Mancuso, and the possibility of using plants as sensors blossomed. This led to PLEASED, a project that spans many operations, from Vitalettis company W-LAB and hardware company Advanticsys to The University of Southampton in Britain, The University of Florence and the London Institute for Mathematical Sciences. Its funded by the European Commission.

The fundamental notion is plants could be used as low cost, sustainable sensors for monitoring environmental factors like soil quality and air pollution. Vitaletti and other scientists already are working to connect various species with Arduino circuit boards that can record and transmit information. Eventually, these cyborg plants could detect parasites and pollutants in crops, or they could play a role in whats called precision agriculture, telling farmers when they need more water or more nutrients or less. More broadly, they could monitor the effects of acid rain in the environment or the health of city parks.

Yes, we already have a wide variety of sensors for detecting temperature, humidity and the like. And even Vitaletti admits they are more accurate that whats possible from plants today. But he believes plants, with their robust and multi-facted nature, plants eventually could take us beyond the state of the art.

Like the human brain, plants respond to external stimuli from electrical signals. But while we already have tools for monitoring electrical activity in the brain tools even let you control video games and robotic arms with brain waves the mechanisms for plant signaling are less understood.

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The Internet of Vegetables: How Cyborg Plants Can Monitor Our World

Drum lines set off Perth beaches

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One of two sharks caught on the drum lines is taken aboard the Fisheries vessel. Picture: Ian Munro/The West Australian

Two tiger sharks have been caught on baited hooks set by the Fisheries Department off metropolitan beaches this morning.

The first is thought to have been about 1.5m to 2m long.

It was pulled aboard the Fisheries vessel, the hook was removed and it was returned to the water.

The State Government policy stipulates that only great white, tiger and bull sharks greater than 3m can be killed if caught by the drum lines.

An under-sized tiger shark, was caught soon after and released.

A tiger shark is taken aboard the boat. Picture: Ian Munro/The West Australian

Channel 7 reporter Geof Parry told 6PR Fisheries officers struggled to get control of the shark as it thrashed in the water.

The release prompted a warning on Twitter from Surf Lifesaving WA.

"Swimmers at Cottesloe have been advised to exercise caution. A 2.6m Tiger shark has been released 1km from shore by Dept Fisheries," it said.

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Drum lines set off Perth beaches

Hottest Caribbean beaches

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Trying to pick the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean is almost cruelhow can you possibly choose which palm tree-flanked, sand-covered stretch of paradise you like best? Somehow, our readers managed to do it. Take a moment to escape (in your mind, at least) to these stunning beaches on the Caribbean's best islands.

iStock

Grace Bay is "the best beach I have ever seen," according to one of our readers. The beach boasts "powdery soft and gorgeous sand" and "the most beautiful aqua water," perfect for swimming and snorkeling.

iStock

Readers call this beach on Isla de Vieques "amazing" and "simply beautiful." The beach is named after its lush, green surroundings, and is popular for swimming, snorkeling, and surfing.

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Shoal Bay is "the most beautiful beach in the world," according to one of our readers. Others call it a "quiet oasis, just surreal," and liken it to "walking into a fine piece of art." Yeah, we'd probably agree.

Galley Bay Resort

Galley Bay has been described by our readers as "quiet and wonderful" and a "true paradise." Though the nearby Dickenson Bay and North Beach also get plenty of love, you can't beat a white sand beach that's "just out of this world." If you're feeling fancy, grab a cocktail at the Galley Bay Resort's beachside bar (we recommend the Crimson Tide).

iStock

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Hottest Caribbean beaches

Beach-use articles up for debate

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Just how residents and the public at large use Rye's beaches and shorelines will be debated at the town's annual deliberative session.

This is the second straight year that townspeople have considered placing restrictions on surf camps and other commercial beach activities at the deliberative session, which begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, at Rye Junior High School.

Use of the beaches, particularly the shores on either end of Jenness State Beach, has remained a hotly debated issue for more than a year now, and Saturday's deliberative session allows residents and business owners to share their thoughts.

For anyone who may not be familiar with deliberative sessions, they are held to allow the public to comment and possibly alter warrant articles before they head to Election Day, which is March 11 in Rye, with polls open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The use of the beaches is among a mix of articles awaiting voters, but it certainly has spurred the most discussion ahead of Saturday's deliberative session.

Two articles, as proposed, are designed to restrict commercial activities at the beach. One would allow only "ocean borne" activities like surfing and kayaking lessons, and would prohibit other popular commercial activities such as Zumba. A class on the sands near Jenness State Beach held by Marianela Ramirez, director of Vive La Dance & Fitness, sparked controversy last summer. Organized surfing lessons have raised concerns as well.

The second article would prohibit all types of commercial activity on town beaches between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and at all times on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Tyler McGill of Summer Sessions Surf Shop said he is rallying supporters within the surfing community to fight the two petition warrant articles, claiming they will infringe on the public's ability to use the beach.

The issue is focused on whether organized commercial activities enhance the general public's access to the public property below the median high tide mark, or serve to temporarily privatize public space for the benefit of businesses.

A group called Save Our Shore sent a mailer to all town residents outlining perceived problems at the beach and advocating for measures to restrict the ability of businesses to operate on the beach.

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Two suburban women to work with NASA on astronomy program

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Article updated: 1/30/2014 6:05 PM

This April 20, 2010 photo shows the bay of a modified Boeing 747SP jetliner containing the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) telescope at a NASA Dryden Flight Research Center test facility in Palmdale, Calif. Two Northwest suburban woman have been selected to participate in the program as airborne astronomy ambassadors.

Associated Press file photo

Marcella Linahan

Lynne Zielinski

Going where few have gone before, two Northwest suburban women will spend a week working with NASA on scientific missions this spring.

Mundelein's Marcella Linahan and Long Grove's Lynne Zielinski will participate in the space agency's Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors program. They'll comprise one of 12 two-person teams from 10 states.

After training in California, they'll fly high-altitude missions on NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy. Called SOFIA for short, it's a modified Boeing 747 jet that's equipped with a large telescope to study objects in space that are visible in infrared light.

The program is scheduled for April and will last one week.

"Excited" doesn't begin to describe how Linahan and Zielinski feel about the opportunity.

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Two suburban women to work with NASA on astronomy program

Few ‘Stars’ shine bright in this formulaic rom-com

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Straining to meld a love triangle with an astronomy lesson, the rom-com The Brightest Star disappears into a black hole of clich.

Chris Lowell (an isotope of John Krasinski) plays a mild college student who gets sucked into the gravitational pull of the planet-size eyes of a blond cutie (Rose McIver) in astronomy class. Altering his career trajectory, he orbits around her while taking a depressing corporate job. But isnt his true kindred spirit an artsy downtown folk singer (Jessica Szohr) who rejects the 9-to-5 life?

As dull as the situation is, the execution is even duller. Our doe-eyed young man receives wisdom from an actual astronomer (Allison Janney, the movies only saving grace) and learns that sometimes looking as far away as we can is just a way of ignoring whats right in front of us. Still, any scene containing Janney beats the dopey falling-in-love bits that rely on dialogue like, If we were a color, what color would we be? I dunno, is bland a color?

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Few ‘Stars’ shine bright in this formulaic rom-com