For its 40th birthday, one of the United States' oldest ongoing satellite missions is celebrating by handing out some unique presents.
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NASA Builds Recommendations To Preserve Lunar Sites
May 24, 2012
Lee Rannals for RedOrbit.com
NASA announced guidelines established to try and protect lunar historic sites as engineers and scientists aim their sites for the moon.
The new guidelines will be taken into account by the X Prize Foundation as it judges mobility plans submitted by 26 teams trying to become the first privately-funded entity to visit the moon.
NASA said it recognizes that both nations and the companies have ambitions to reach the moon, so it wanted to develop the recommendations to preserve areas like mans first lunar steps.
The space agency is cooperating with the X Prize Foundation and the Google Lunar X Prize teams to develop the recommendations.
NASA and the next generation of lunar explorers share a common interest in preserving humanitys first steps on another celestial body and protecting ongoing science from the potentially damaging effects of nearby landers, the space agency said in a press release.
NASA said it assembled the guidelines using data from previous lunar studies and an analysis of the unmanned lander Surveyor 3s samples after Apollo 12 landed in 1969.
Experts from the historic and scientific communities also helped to contribute to the recommendations. The guidelines are not mandatory U.S. or international requirements, but are recommended to ensure landmarks created by the Apollo mission remain in place.
During the Google Lunar X Prize, the first place prize will go to the privately-funded team that builds a rover that lands successfully on the moon, and explores it by moving at least one-third of a mile while returning high-definition footage back to Earth. The winner of this prize will be awarded $30 million.
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NASA scientist weighs space rock from millions of miles away
Washington, May 25 (ANI): A NASA scientist has accurately determined the mass of a nearby asteroid from millions of miles away.
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NASA scientist weighs space rock from millions of miles away
NASA: Research Shows Existence of Reduced Carbon on Mars
PRESS RELEASE Date Released: Thursday, May 24, 2012 Source: NASA Science Mission Directorate
NASA: Research Shows Existence of Reduced Carbon on Mars
NASA-funded research on Mars meteorites that landed on Earth shows strong evidence that very large molecules containing carbon, which is a key ingredient for the building blocks of life, can originate on the Red Planet. These macromolecules are not of biological origin, but they are indicators that complex carbon chemistry has taken place on Mars.
Researchers from the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington who found reduced carbon molecules now have better insight into the chemical processes taking place on Mars. Reduced carbon is carbon that is bonded to hydrogen or itself. Their findings also may assist in future quests for evidence of life on the Red Planet. The findings are published in Thursday's online edition of Science Express.
"These findings show that the storage of reduced carbon molecules on Mars occurred throughout the planet's history and might have been similar to processes that occurred on the ancient Earth," said Andrew Steele, lead author of the paper and researcher from Carnegie. "Understanding the genesis of these non-biological, carbon-containing macromolecules on Mars is crucial for developing future missions to detect evidence of life on our neighboring planet."
Finding molecules containing large chains of carbon and hydrogen has been one objective of past and present Mars missions. Such molecules have been found previously in Mars meteorites, but scientists have disagreed about how the carbon in them was formed and whether it came from Mars. This new information proves Mars can produce organic carbon.
"Although this study has not yielded evidence that Mars has or once may have supported life, it does address some important questions about the sources of organic carbon on Mars," said Mary Voytek, director of NASA's Astrobiology Program at the agency's Headquarters in Washington. "With the Curiosity rover scheduled to land in August, these new research results may help Mars Science Laboratory scientists fine-tune their investigations on the surface of the planet by understanding where organic carbon may be found and how it is preserved."
Scientists have theorized that the large carbon macromolecules detected on Martian meteorites could have originated from terrestrial contamination from Earth or other meteorites, or chemical reactions or biological activity on Mars.
Steele's team examined samples from 11 Martian meteorites from a period spanning about 4.2 billion years of Martian history. They detected large carbon compounds in 10 of them. The molecules were found inside grains of crystallized minerals.
Using an array of sophisticated research techniques, the team was able to show that at least some of the macromolecules of carbon were indigenous to the meteorites themselves and not contamination from Earth.
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NASA Hosting $1.5 Million Autonomous Rover Contest
The competition will be held June 16, where NASA will award prize money based on how well the robots complete phase two
NASA is holding a competition for the creation of autonomous rovers in Massachusetts next month, which will ideally be used forplanetary missionsin the future.
The competition, called the Sample Return Robot Challenge, will allow private and public teams to compete in a contest for the best autonomous robot for future space missions. NASA is spending $1.5 million total on the contest, which will be held at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts.
NASA is looking for a team that can create an unmanned, smaller robot that is approximately 1.5 cubic meters and 175 pounds. The winning robot must be able to explore many types of environments, search for specific items and collect them. However, the robot cannot use GPS or an internet connection because these kinds of systems are restricted to Earth. It also cannot use air-cooling or ultrasonic rangefinders because of the lack of air in other planetary environments.
Phase one of the challenge is to have each of the competing robots collect a sample within a quarter of an hour. When this task is successfully completed, robots can move on to phase two, where they are expected to collect 10 separate samples in just two hours and return them to a certain area.
There are currently 11 final teams that will compete. Some of the contenders include the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Waterloo, SpacePRIDE, and True Vision. All teams are U.S. and Canada-based.
NASA is ultimately looking for an autonomous rover that can be sent on planetary missions in the future to collect certain items in varied terrains.
Last May, NASA bid farewell to itsMars rover named Spirit, which spent six years exploring Mars before falling silent for an entire year and finally being put to rest. Later, in November 2011, NASA launched a new Mars rover called Curiosity to the Red Planet in an effort to continue exploring the Martian surface.
NASA rover Curiosityis a $2.5 billion nuclear-powered machine meant for the exploration of Mars in hopes of finding evidence of microscopic life. It is the size of a Mini Cooper, and about four times as heavy as the Spirit and Opportunity Mars rovers. Curiosity has a large robot arm, a weather station, a laser that can vaporize rocks at seven meters, a percussive drill, and 4.8kg of plutonium-238.
The competition will be held June 16, where NASA will award prize money based on how well the robots complete phase two.
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Future Mars Mission Submissions Pour In To NASA
May 25, 2012
Image Credit: NASA
Lee Rannals for RedOrbit.com
NASA said it has received 400 mission concepts from scientists and engineers for a future Mars mission.
Scientists and engineers submitted their ideas to the Concepts and Approaches for Mars Exploration Workshop in Houston, which was an event put together by NASAs Mars Exploration Program.
Both individuals and teams submitted their visions to the NASA program for a new strategy to explore the Red Planet.
The space agency is reformulating the Mars Exploration Program to enable it to reach high-priority science goals, as well as President Barack Obamas ambitions to have man walk on Mars in the future.
This strong response sends a clear message that exploring Mars is important to future exploration, John Grunsfeld, associate administrator for NASAs Science Mission Directorate, said in a press release. The challenge now will be to select the best ideas for the next phase.
NASA will be selecting certain concepts out of the 400 for a workshop June 12 through 14, which will be hosted by the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston.
The scientists behind the ideas that are selected for the workshop will be invited to present and discuss concepts, options, capabilities and innovations aimed at advancing mans reach for the study of Mars.
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NASA Receives Widespread Concepts for Future Mars Missions
PRESS RELEASE Date Released: Thursday, May 24, 2012 Source: NASA Science Mission Directorate
NASA Receives Widespread Concepts for Future Mars Missions
WASHINGTON -- NASA's call to scientists and engineers to help plan a new strategy to explore Mars has resulted in almost double the amount of expected submissions with unique and bold ideas.
About 400 concepts or abstracts were submitted to the Concepts and Approaches for Mars Exploration Workshop in Houston, which was organized to gather input for the reformulation of NASA's Mars Exploration Program. Submissions came from individuals and teams that included professional researchers, undergraduate and graduate students, NASA centers, federal laboratories, industry, and international partner organizations.
NASA is reformulating the Mars Exploration Program to be responsive to high-priority science goals and President Obama's challenge of sending humans to Mars orbit in the 2030s.
"This strong response sends a clear message that exploring Mars is important to future exploration," said John Grunsfeld, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate at the agency's headquarters in Washington and an astrophysicist and astronaut. "The challenge now will be to select the best ideas for the next phase."
Selected abstracts will be presented during a workshop June 12-14 hosted by the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston. Selectees are now being invited to present and discuss concepts, options, capabilities and innovations to advance Mars exploration. Workshop discussion will help inform a strategy for exploration within available resources beginning as early as 2018, and stretching into the next decade and beyond. Proceedings will be streamed live online.
"Developing abstracts is very time consuming, requiring intense preparation, and we appreciate the fabulous response," said Doug McCuistion, director, NASA's Mars Exploration Program in Washington. "Even though space is limited, to ensure transparency in the process anyone can observe the scientific and engineering deliberations via the Web."
Based on the abstracts selected, associated working groups will consider the ideas and concepts in depth during the workshop. Near-term ideas will be taken into consideration for early mission planning in the 2018-2024 timeframe, while mid- to longer-term ideas will inform program-level architecture planning for 2026 and beyond.
The Mars Program Planning Group (MPPG), tasked with developing options for a reformulated Mars Exploration Program, will consider the workshop inputs for the various options, taking into consideration budgetary, programmatic, scientific, and technical constraints.
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Astronauts snare SpaceX Dragon capsule: NASA
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - Astronauts aboard the International Space Station captured Space Exploration Technologies' Dragon cargo ship on Friday, the first privately owned vehicle to reach the orbital outpost. Using the station's 58-foot long (17.7-meter) robotic crane, NASA astronaut Don Pettit snared Dragon at 9:56 a.m. EDT (1356 GMT) as the two spacecraft zoomed 250 miles over ...
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SpaceX Flight Launches: Could Private Space Make NASA Irrelevant?
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket with the Dragon capsule lifts off from launch complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force station
REUTERS/Scott Audette
Talk about outsourcing.
NASA took a giant leap toward effective irrelevance today with the 10:43 AM launch of the Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral in Florida. Youve never heard of the Falcon 9? How about PayPal, then? Good, because they were both produced by the same guyentrepreneur and all-around brainiac Elon Musk. Get used to the name since before long he may be the only guy who can get Americans into space.
(See the top 50 space moments since Sputnik.)
When President Obama took office nearly two years ago, he inherited a mess of woes from the outgoing administration, but ex-President Bush did leave him one gem: a re-invigorated NASA that was working aggressively to put human beings back on the moon. Spacecraft were being designed, boosters were being built, factories were being re-tooled, metal was being cut. That came essentially to a halt with a new White House policy to scrap the new lunar program, stand down the new boosters and leave it largely to the private sector to build rockets and ferry Americans into orbit. The moon would be taken off the table, but other deep space destinations such as asteroid flybys would still be a possibilitysomeday.
(See a video tour of SpaceXs facilities.)
Two big firms are currently vying to be the governments prime supplier: Orbital Sciences, in Dulles, Va., and SpaceX, based in Texas and California. SpaceX is Musks operation, and the company vaulted to a big lead with its launch today. In July, a Falcon 9 successfully put a mock-up of the companys Dragon space capsule into orbit. Todays flight is a two-orbit, 3 hr. and 30 min. mission, which is intended not just to get the Dragon payload into space, but return it successfully for a splashdown in the Pacific.
(See the top 10 NASA flubs.)
Thats the smallest of small potatoes for NASA, but big news for the private sector. If the mission is successful, it positions SpaceX to become the principle taxi service to and from the International Space Station. That will become especially important next year when the space shuttles are retired, leaving Americans dependent on Russian Soyuz spacecraft to get to and from orbit.
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SpaceX Flight Launches: Could Private Space Make NASA Irrelevant?
Mars or Bust! Scientists Flood NASA With 400 Ideas to Explore Red Planet
Scientists have responded in a big way to NASA's call to help reformulate its Mars robotic exploration strategy, submitting about 400 ideas and Red Planet mission concepts to the space agency.
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Mars or Bust! Scientists Flood NASA With 400 Ideas to Explore Red Planet
Nanotechnology for solar energy conversion systems
EU researchers extensively characterised the self-organisation of nanotubes and developed novel compositions particularly appropriate to solar energy conversion applications.
Self-organized one-dimensional (1D) oxide nanotube systems are a hot research topic of late given that their inherently high surface area-to-volume ratio produces interesting and useful properties.
In particular, over the last 20 years, ordered arrays of porous titanium oxide (TiO2), or TiO2 nanotubes, achieved via electrochemical anodisation have been extensively studied. To date, TiO2 is the only material suitable for use as a photocatalyst (substance using light energy to enhance chemical reactions) due to its high efficiency and stability, low cost and safety profile toward humans and the environment.
European researchers set out to prepare and characterise self-organised TiO2 nanotubes with an ordered structure similar to that of porous aluminium oxide (Al2O3) and silicon (Si) nanotubes via funding of the Preparation, characterisation and application of self-organised titanium oxide - nanotubes (TI- Nanotubes) project.
In particular, investigators sought to understand key parameters governing self-organisation of TiO2 nanotubes, specifically those affecting tube dimensions, orientation and morphology. The ultimate goal was to develop novel functional and structural materials with superior performance characteristics to be used in solar energy conversion systems such as dye-sensitised solar cells.
Self-ordering mechanisms of TiO2 nanotubes were investigated via a plethora of surface analysis technologies including Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) and nuclear reaction analysis (NRA) for depth profiling.
The TI- Nanotubes consortium successfully produced TiO2 nanotube arrays doped with silver (Ag) or iron (Fe) that exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity important for solar energy conversion applications.
Commercial exploitation of TI- Nanotubes project results has the potential to enhance solar energy efficiency and use with important benefits for the EU economy, EU citizens and the planet.
Provided by CORDIS
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Research and Markets: Nanostructured Materials and Nanotechnology: Volume 1371. MRS Proceedings
DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/xkbjrg/nanostructured_mat) has announced the addition of the "Nanostructured Materials and Nanotechnology: Volume 1371. MRS Proceedings" report to their offering.
The fields of nanoscience and nanotechnology continue to have a major impact in a number of scientific and technological areas such as health, computing, sensing, catalysis, coatings and aerospace. For the past few years, the Nanostructured Materials and Nanotechnology Symposium, during the International Materials Research Congress, has been aiming to provide an international forum for the presentation of the latest developments in nanotechnology and nanomaterials research. As in previous years, a growing community of scientists, researchers, students and industry representatives gathered to present and discuss the different topics covered by the symposium, which ranged from theory to experiment and included new synthetic routes, processing, characterisation and modelling of nanomaterials, structure-property correlations at the nanoscale, fundamental phenomena occurring in nanoscale systems and processes, and the design, application and industrial development of nanostructured materials and nanosystems. This year the symposium also included a session devoted specifically to low-dimensional carbon nanostructures.
Key Topics Covered:
1. Size and shape dependencies of nanomaterial properties: thermodynamic considerations
2. Synthesis of silver nanostructures by the polyol method and their statistical analysis using design of experiments
3. Characterization of electron-beam-induced silver deposition from liquid phase
4. Synthesis of soluble carcerands
5. Near-equilibrium solubility of nanocrystalline alloys
6. VLS synthesis and characterization of SnO2 nanowires
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Research and Markets: Nanostructured Materials and Nanotechnology: Volume 1371. MRS Proceedings
Nanotechnology for Photonics: Global Markets
NEW YORK, May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:
Nanotechnology for Photonics: Global Markets
INTRODUCTION
Most analyses of the nanophotonics market focus on the development of new nanophotonics technologies and applications, rather than quantifying the potential market for these technologies. These analyses have made valuable contributions to raising investors' awareness of and interest in nanophotonics.
However, these analyses by themselves do not provide sufficient information to guide corporate or individual investment decisions. Investors require additional information, such as the size of specific nanophotonics markets, prices, competition, and potential regulation, as provided in this report.
As defined above, nanophotonics are closely related to nano-optoelectronics. Many photonic devices, such as diodes, are also commonly classified as optoelectronic devices. This study does not exclude any application that meets the basic definition of a photonic device, even if it is also classifiable as an optoelectronic device.
Major types of nanoscale devices covered in this report include optical fiber, channel add/drop filters, optical switches and gates, light-emitting diodes, optical amplifiers, solar cells and holographic memory. The report format includes the following major elements:
Executive summaryDefinitionsMilestones in the development of nanophotonicsCurrent and potential nanophotonics applicationsApplications and end-users with the greatest commercial potential through 2016Global nanophotonics market trends, 2010-2016Factors that will influence the long-term development of nanophotonicsMarket shares and industry structure
METHODOLOGY AND INFORMATION SOURCES
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Synthetic nano-waste does not disappear
Non-degradable nanoparticles bind to solid residues resulting from the incineration of waste and thus can find their way into the environment. Depicted: the waste incineration plant Emmenspitz. Credit: Tobias Walser
(Phys.org) -- Tiny particles of cerium oxide do not burn or change in the heat of a waste incineration plant. They remain intact on combustion residues or in the incineration system, as a new study by Swiss researchers from ETH Zurich reveals.
Over 100 million tons of waste are incinerated worldwide every year. Due to the increasing use of nanoparticles in construction materials, paints, textiles and cosmetics, for instance, nanoparticles also find their way into incineration plants. What happens to them there, however, had not been investigated until now. Three ETH-Zurich teams from fields of chemistry and environmental engineering thus set about finding out what happens to synthetic nano-cerium oxide during the incineration of refuse in a waste incineration plant. Cerium oxide itself is a non-toxic ceramic material, not biologically degradable and a common basic component in automobile catalytic converters and diesel soot filters.
Unknown danger?
Experts fear that non-degradable nanomaterials might be just as harmful for humans and the environment as asbestos. As yet, however, not enough is known about the properties of nanomaterials. One thing is for sure: they differ greatly from larger particles of the same material. Nanoparticles are more mobile and have a different surface structure. Knowledge of these properties is important with the increasing use of nanomaterials as, as they are transferred through incineration plants or sewage, and as they are absorbed by people in food and perhaps even through the skin and respiration, and can thus enter the body.
Consequently, the scientists sprayed ten kilograms of cerium oxide particles measuring eighty nanometers in diameter onto refuse to be incinerated in a waste incineration plant in Solothurn, thus modelling refuse that is rich in nanoparticles. Up to eight tons of waste is incinerated at the Solothurn plant per hour. It has modern filters and fly-ash separation systems based on electrostatic filters and a wet scrubber.
In a second experiment, the particles were sprayed directly into the combustion chamber, thereby simulating a future worst case scenario with massive nanoparticle release during incineration. The study was backed and approved by the SUVA, the Federal Offices of Public Health and the Environment, and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs.
Nanoparticles stick to surfaces
The researchers tests revealed that cerium oxide does not change significantly during incineration. The fly-ash separation devices proved extremely efficient: the scientists did not find any leaked cerium oxide nanoparticles in the waste incineration plants clean gas. That said, the nanoparticles remained loosely bound to the combustion residues in the plant and partially in the incineration system, too. The fly ash separated from the flue gas also contained cerium oxide nanoparticles.
Nowadays, combustion residues and thus the nanoparticles bound to them end up on landfills or are reprocessed to extract copper or aluminium, for instance. The researchers see a need for action here. We have to make sure that new nanoparticles dont get into the water and food cycle via landfills or released into the atmosphere through further processing measures, says Wendelin Stark, head of the study and a professor of chemical engineering at ETH Zurich. Moreover, the fact that nanoparticles that could be inhaled if inadequate protection is worn might be present in the incineration system needs to be taken into consideration during maintenance work.
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Journal Tips from the American Institute of Physics: May 24, 2012
Newswise The following are brief summaries of papers recently accepted for publication in journals of the American Institute of Physics (AIP): Applied Physics Letters, Journal of Applied Physics, and Physics of Fluids.
1. A Nanoclutch for Nano-bots
Chinese researchers have designed and tested simulations of a nanoclutch, a speed regulation tool for nanomotors. The nanoclutch consists of two carbon nanotubes (CNTs), one inside the other, separated by a film of water. Electrowetting forces control the friction between the water and the inner and outer walls of the CNTs. When the two tubes are electrically charged, the water confined between them can transmit the torque from the inner tube to the outer tube, and the device is said to be in the engaged state. When the CNTs are uncharged, the device is in the disengaged state. In a paper accepted to the American Institute of Physics Journal of Applied Physics, the authors write that their proposed device can perform stepless speed regulation by changing the magnitude of the charge assigned to the CNT atoms. Though further work is needed, they say the model may be helpful in designing and manufacturing nanorobots.
Title: Carbon Nanotube-Based Charge-Controlled Speed-Regulating Nanoclutch Journal: Journal of Applied Physics (jap.aip.org) Authors: Zhong-Qiang Zhang (1), Hong-Fei Ye (2), Zhen Liu (3), Jian-Ning Ding (1), Guang-Gui Cheng (1), Zhi-Yong Ling (1), Yong-Gang Zheng (2), Lei Wang (4), and Jin-Bao Wang (5)
(1) Micro/Nano Science and Technology Center, Jiangsu University, China (2) State Key Laboratory of Structural Analysis for Industrial Equipment, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Faculty of Vehicle Engineering and Mechanics, Dalian University of Technology, China (3) School of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, China (4) Department of Engineering Mechanics, College of Mechanics and Materials, Hohai University, China (5) School of Naval Architecture & Civil Engineering, Zhejiang Ocean University, China
2. Sound Increases the Efficiency of Boiling
Scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology achieved a 17-percent increase in boiling efficiency by using an acoustic field to enhance heat transfer. The acoustic field does this by efficiently removing vapor bubbles from the heated surface and suppressing the formation of an insulating vapor film. As reported in the American Institute of Physics (AIP) journal the Physics of Fluids, bubble removal was enhanced because the acoustic field induces capillary waves on the bubble, causing its contact line to contract and detach the bubble from the surface. The mechanisms associated with these interactions were explored using three acoustic experiments: an air bubble on the underside of a horizontal surface, a single vapor bubble on the top side of a horizontal heated surface, and pool boiling from a horizontal heated surface. The researchers were able to isolate and identify the dominant forces involved in these acoustically forced motions by measuring the capillary waves induced on the bubbles, bubble motion, and heat transfer during boiling. Title: Acoustically Enhanced Boiling Heat Transfer Journal: Physics of Fluids (pof.aip.org) Authors: Zachary Douglas (1), Thomas R. Boziuk (1), Marc K. Smith (1), and Ari Glezer (1)
(1) Georgia Institute of Technology
3. Slip-and-slide Power Generators
Researchers from Vestfold University College in Norway have created a simple, efficient energy harvesting device that uses the motion of a single droplet to generate electrical power. The new technology could be used as a power source for low-power portable devices, and would be especially suitable for harvesting energy from low frequency sources such as human body motion, write the authors in a paper accepted to the American Institute of Physics (AIP) journal Applied Physics Letters. The harvester produces power when an electrically conductive droplet (mercury or an ionic liquid) slides along a thin microfabricated material called an electret film, which has a permanent electric charge built into it during deposition. Cyclic tilting of the device causes the droplet to accelerate across the films surface; the maximum output voltage (and power) occurs when the sliding droplet reaches its maximum velocity at one end of the film. A prototype of the fluidic energy harvester demonstrated a peak output power at 0.18 microwatts, using a single droplet 1.2 millimeters in diameter sliding along a 2-micrometer-thick electret film.
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Journal Tips from the American Institute of Physics: May 24, 2012
Nano-structured polymer-based materials from scrap
EU researchers developed polymer blends and processing techniques facilitating recovery of scrap from industrial processes. Advances in this area have the potential to decrease costs and waste while protecting the environment.
Scrap materials, including those left over from consumption as well as those left over from production but not useful for a variety of reasons, comprise a vast range of reclaimable materials of potential use in other products.
European researchers supported by funding of the Innovative molecular modelling approach to upgrade polymeric materials from post industrial rejects (MOMO) project sought to develop tailor-made multi-component polymer blends from so-called post-industrial rejects, thereby extending their life-cycle and diminishing their negative environmental impact. Reclamation of scrap was seen as an important part not only of recycling but of cost reduction and elimination of waste.
The properties of nanocomposites change significantly depending on the types of matrix and filler used as well as their amounts. Polymer blends of interest included polycarbonates (PCs), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).
Investigators focused on embedding nanoparticles in the polymer matrices to obtain novel materials with thermal resistance and stability together with transparency and mechanical strength. In particular, nanofillers such as nanoclays or nanopowders were of interest to improve mechanical properties and mouldability.
MOMO researchers developed modelling protocols for pure polymers, polymer blends, polymer nanocomposites and nanoclays.
With the simulation tools, investigators evaluated the dispersion of nanoclays in polymers and polymeric blends and studied how production technologies including injection moulding, fibre spinning and extrusion could be used to process novel nanocomposites in a cost-effective and optimal manner.
The MOMO consortium developed four demonstrators to assess project outcomes and facilitate commercialisation. Results are of particular importance to the lighting, automotive, construction and textile industries. Commercial exploitation could thus provide a competitive edge to numerous sectors of the European economy as well as enhance sustainability and help the planet.
Provided by CORDIS
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Bayer HealthCare to Exhibit Innovative Device Technologies at 2012 SNM Annual Meeting
TARRYTOWN, N.Y., May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Bayer Radiology & Interventional will showcase new device technologies at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM) in Miami, June 9-13. The new technology includes enhancements to the Intego PET Infusion System, as well as developing platforms for controlled administration of molecular agents for SPECT and small animal imaging procedures.
In PET, the MEDRAD Intego System is a worldwide market leader and the only FDA cleared system for administration of 18F-FDG and 18F-NaF. Bayer has continued to innovate and evolve the Intego platform since its launch in 2008, including adding software features, expanding compatibility and indications, and significantly reducing the size of the device. At SNM, Bayer plans to demonstrate Certegra informatics solutions for Intego, including wireless integration to HIS/RIS/PACS systems which facilitate downloading the PET modality worklist as an infusion schedule and sending infusion results to PACS. This new capability will replace several manual processes, which in turn will streamline workflow and improve efficiency for PET imaging clinics.
Doug Descalzi, Bayer Sr. Director of Molecular Imaging Devices said, "Automated, controlled injection of molecular agents not only has safety and workflow benefits for staff, it can lead to improvements in patient care and help clinicians and scientists unlock the potential of molecular medicine."
In addition, in a scientific exhibition, the company will showcase developing technologies for controlled administration of low energy radiopharmaceuticals and for small animal molecular imaging. Both platforms demonstrate Bayer innovation and commitment to controlled administration technology.
About Bayer HealthCare
The Bayer Group is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, nutrition and high-tech materials. Bayer HealthCare, a subgroup of Bayer AG with annual sales of EUR 17.2 billion (2011), is one of the world's leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry and is based in Leverkusen, Germany. The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Medical Care and Pharmaceuticals divisions. Bayer HealthCare's aim is to discover, develop, manufacture and market products that will improve human and animal health worldwide. Bayer HealthCare has a global workforce of 55,700 employees (Dec 31, 2011) and is represented in more than 100 countries. Find more information at http://www.bayerhealthcare.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer's public reports which are available on the Bayer website at http://www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.
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Bayer HealthCare to Exhibit Innovative Device Technologies at 2012 SNM Annual Meeting
eRa Pulsed’s "Out of Breath" Episode 1 | Funnies And Fails – Video
23-05-2012 14:26 Thumbs up & Favorite for eRa Pulsed! (Open Description for Info!) eRa Pulsed: "yo, sup. New series of "Funnies and Fails" I had these clips saved from a while back so i made a new folder just for that. Anyways hope you guys liked it drop a like pl0x? c: bai." eRa Pulsed's Channel: eRa Pulsed's Twitter: Note: Please keep in Mind that this is NOT MY Video, i got the Permission to Upload this. If you're the owner of this Video, and don't want it uploaded anymore, contact me and I'll remove it as soon as Possible. Thanks. Follow us on Twitter:
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eRa Pulsed's "Out of Breath" Episode 1 | Funnies And Fails - Video
Pokémon Black 0 Exp NM Run – 11 – Frontier Brain Caitlin – Video
24-05-2012 11:33 Read description for details. Playlist: WHERE IS DARACH?!?!?!? Caitlin is a douche. She specializes in Psychic-type Pokémon. Psychics have a long running history of being crippled each generation due to their innate brokeness. Game Freak was like 'Nots to you, buddy!' towards their awesome and made them crappier over time. They usually have a ridiculous Special Attack stat and Speed, but Caitlin throws that down the drain and uses bulky Psychic-types, which makes this possible. I'm very glad to not fight another Lucian. No matter how bulky her Pokémon are though super-effective attacks can easily break anything. Durant is particularly useful here considering his super ant powers due to Hustle, STAB Bug Bite and Crunch. Dunno which one is stronger due to BlackGlasses but I think Bug Bite is the weaker one. Problem is, even with the Steel-typing, he takes massive damage from Caitlin's pokes because his Special Defense is atrocious. We have to avoid him taking damage at all costs. Caitlin opens with Reuniclus. It has a very varied movepool so not many things can switch in safely. I use Basculin as damage fodder (i can make up terms ok) so, after his death, Durant can easily KO with Crunch. Next is gothictrap. It has a very odd AI - sometimes it goes straight for a Thunderbolt, sometimes it uses Calm Mind then Thunderbolt, sometimes it uses Calm Mind twice in a row. I don't know why. But all those are safe scenarios for Durant - he can survive a Thunderbolt ...
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Pokémon Black 0 Exp NM Run - 11 - Frontier Brain Caitlin - Video
No Mind – The beginning. – Video
24-05-2012 19:49 The second scene of "No mind". The movie has been cancelled (Although we may pick it up again and finish it soon!), so I decided to upload the only scene that got finished. (although some of the stabalizion hasn't been done on some of the scenes that clearly need it) I own all the video and sounds, except music which can be found here:
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