Telescopic Lifting Columns

 

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 12:51pm

Thomson Industries, Inc., a leading manufacturer of linear motion products, has introduced a new series of Lifting Columns offering compact, telescopic motion pre-aligned motion solutions. The LC Series requires no maintenance throughout their lifetime. These products can save cost on overall machine design and are ideal for providing telescopic motion in medical and ergonomic applications.

Thomson Lifting Columns are self-supporting and designed for rapid installation and maintenance-free operation. They are highly reliable devices that provide outstanding performance; giving smooth, quiet and fast operation with an excellent extension to retraction ratio. Aesthetically pleasing and easy to install with pre-drilled mounting holes, the compact form of the lifting columns can help optimize machine design and reduce overall costs associated with production.

The Lifting Columns consist of anodized extruded aluminum profiles, which slide into each other. The design provides a high moment load capacity without compromise on speed of operation along with a large lift capacity to frame size ratio. Their robustness and performance is complemented by the ability to link multiple units together for flexibility in design configuration.

Thomson Lifting Columns are available in three model variations, which provide different performance in extension to retraction ratio, load capacity, speed and cost to best match application needs. As with all Thomson solutions, the lifting columns can also be customized to meet specific customer requirements.

The innovative design and maintenance-free operation of the new Thomson LC Series Lifting Columns can help engineers optimize overall machine design, offering the potential for cost reduction and reduced manufacturing time.

Thomson Industries Inc.

Continuous Sensing Digital Viscometer

 

Mon, 10/13/2014 - 11:55am

 

Brookfield Engineering has introduced the new DV1 Viscometer, the lowest-cost, continuous sensing digital viscometer in the Brookfield family of instruments. The head of the DV1 Viscometer features a new shape and a larger easy-to-read display. Multiple language choices are now included and the user interface has three hot keys for quick access to spindle selection, test speed and other functions.

The operator can now customize the display, choosing which number appears larger on screen based on their operational preferences.  And, the DV1 now features the same lab stand found on Brookfield’s DV3T Rheometer and DV2T Viscometer, providing plenty of room for sample placement.

Optional Wingather SQ Software allows the user to collect, analyze and record test data.  Multiple tests can be compared graphically and the user can export data files to Excel.  The new DV1 Viscometer includes a USB output connection for a Dymo Printer.

The DV1 features direct access to time measurement functions (time to torque, time to stop).  This instrument can be ordered with the temperature measurement option.

Brookfield Engineering

 

 

 

Ceiling-mounted Air Filtration System

 

Mon, 03/03/2014 - 11:14am

Erlab, Inc.

 

Erlab has introduced the Halo, a standalone, ceiling-mounted air filtration system for the laboratory that allows safe reduction of air change rates while simultaneously improving the air quality of the laboratory. Featuring Neutrodine filtration technology, Halo offers a solution to the energy consumption and environmental impact of traditional high air change rates in laboratories. Halo filters air continuously, allowing equivalent air change rates (eACH) for safety and savings in the laboratory environment. When a chemical spill occurs, the Halo rapidly improves air quality. The power of Neutrodine filters, also used in the GreenFumeHood, capture and retain a broad range of acids, bases and solvents, suiting it for any laboratory environment. Halo is installed in the ceiling grid like other fixtures. Multiple units can be networked to increase their coverage area and communicate any sensed issues to occupants. Visit Erlab at Pittcon booth #3735 for more information on the Halo.

Erlab, www.erlab.com

 

Automated Precision Weighing Handbook

 

Mon, 08/25/2014 - 1:56pm

 

The new Automated Precision Weighing Handbook from Mettler Toledo addresses end users who plan to purchase a filling machine by providing providing a comprehensive overview on the most common automated precision weighing technologies and their related terminology.

The APW Handbook covers the following topics:

• General knowledge related to automated precision weighing

• Equipment selection criteria

• Installation guidance and

• Maintenance tips.

This content from the APW experts at Mettler Toledo helps end users and machine builders understand the advantages and disadvantages of various solutions to make knowledgeable buying decisions. The comprehensive overview on weighing technology for filling machines allows them to assess their current measuring devices and evaluate alternative solutions. It provides scientific data and explains the accepted guidelines needed to help businesses design an accurate, reliable weighing system.

Mettler Toledo: Automated Precision Weighing Handbook

 

 

Smartphone app to cut risk of power outages

 

Fri, 11/14/2014 - 10:45am

Carl Blesch, Rutgers Univ.

 

Volunteers using smartphones equipped with the Rutgers-developed app combed the streets of Warren Township to document hazards to utility lines. Image: Janne LindqvistAn easy-to-use smartphone app developed by Rutgers Univ. engineers will help keep the lights on in a heavily wooded New Jersey suburb that suffered widespread power outages during Superstorm Sandy.

Officials in Warren Township, a country-like community nestled in Somerset County’s Watchung Mountains, knew they could cut the risk of future power outages if they documented vulnerable spots in the utility network, such as branches dangling perilously close to wires or poles cracking and leaning. But sending police and municipal workers to sniff out these trouble spots would be expensive and disruptive to municipal services.

Rutgers and the township committee agreed to a solution—crowdsource the task.

Crowdsourcing, an information-age technique that parcels out a large job to a community of unrelated experts—looked like a promising approach to Warren’s task. But it would work only if gathering the data and organizing it could be simplified.

Janne Lindqvist, assistant professor in the Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, was up to the task. He had just received National Science Foundation funding to research crowdsourcing in local communities, and Warren Township’s challenge proved an ideal match for his concepts.

“The idea is basically simple,” Lindqvist said. “You have a smartphone app that walks you through documenting the hazard. Users are prompted to take a photo of the problem, classify it and verify the location provided by the phone’s location-sensing capability.”

Hit “send,” and the hazard is catalogued in a server.

Warren Township’s utility advisory committee advertised for volunteers in the community, and some members of the committee even volunteered themselves. In September of 2013, a team of eight volunteers fanned out across the township using Android-based smart phones with the app Lindqvist and his students developed.

“They managed to cover the township in eight days and document 351 hazards along 317 miles of wire,” Lindqvist said.

The researchers’ more challenging task was developing server software to capture, classify and present the data. The information had to be easy to deliver to the utility companies that serve the township, so the researchers made it possible to classify common types of hazards, such as branches that were leaning on wires, and to collect all the hazards in a specific neighborhood.

By presenting the data in such an organized manner, the township’s two electric utilities were able to correct all of the problems before the beginning of the mercifully quiet 2014 hurricane season.

Lindqvist considers his team’s work as more than a technical innovation.

“This is a public policy innovation as well,” he said. “When problems are clearly documented and presented to the utilities, they have to check the problems and deal with them. They can’t say after a disaster that they weren’t aware of them.”

By working with the township, the researchers learned that various community processes are candidates for crowdsourcing, and that a well-designed, task-specific app can have a substantial impact. They also learned that paying attention to the details—a straightforward visual interface, reducing the amount of interaction needed, and automatically loading as much information as possible—maximizes productivity.

Lindqvist continues to work with the township and is looking for opportunities to work with other communities.

Source: Rutgers Univ.

High-speed Bulk Sorter

 

Thu, 07/31/2014 - 11:13am

 

Yaskawa Motoman’s AutoSorter 2000BB is a high-speed bulk sorter for high-volume commercial laboratories. AutoSorter 2000BB provides maximum specimen throughput at up to 2,000 tubes/hr. It minimizes manual handling of specimens through bulk loading/unloading, and reduces sequential sorting by fine sorting in one step. AutoSorter 2000BB utilizes the AutoSorter 1200 platform, a high-speed sorting instrument for pre- and post-analytic specimen processing. It raises the bar on throughput at up to 1,200 tubes/hr. A larger sort deck area yields extended walkaway times and expanded deck configuration options, while its reduced footprint saves precious laboratory floorspace. AutoSorter 1200 may be positioned against a wall or next to other instruments as all maintenance access is from the front of the instrument.

Yaskawa Motoman, www.motoman.com

 

Beats by Dr. Dre rolls out new Bluetooth wireless headphones

 

Beats unveiled its first product in the Apple era, the Bluetooth-enabled Solo2 headphones

The tech world has had an eye fixed on the Beats by Dr. Dre audio brand since Apple acquired it back in July. We're now getting our first glimpse of the Apple-owned Beats, as the Dr. Dre stable has just announced its first new product post-purchase just in time for the holidays: the Solo2 Wireless on-ear headphones.

The Solo2 headphones, pricing around $300, follow on the heels of the market leading Solo model, according to Beats Electronics/Apple. What is most noted for being new with this release is the integration of wireless Bluetooth functionality, which lets one enjoy streaming audio up to 30 feet away from a compatible device, such as an iPhone.

Control for the headphones is built into the “b” and volume buttons on one of the ear cups. From here you can take phone calls, change songs and manipulate the music volume. There’s also an integrated microphone for use when a call does come in, allowing for nearly hands-free operation.

The headphones have a claimed 12 hours wireless usage time, and can be recharged in about 2 hours by plugging in an included USB charging cable. This cable also allows for usage even when the battery is drained when connected to an external power supply. Should you need to know the status of your battery, tapping the power button will light up a series of LEDs to let you know how much charge is left.

Physically speaking, the Solo2 model sports a curved design, which supposedly helps to improve comfort. This is augmented by padded, pivoting ear cups said to offer passive noise blocking. Body color choices will include red, white, black and blue when it becomes available this month.

Source: Beats by Dr. Dre

 

Unshackling The Gold Standard

 

Tue, 11/11/2014 - 9:09am

Chris Petty, VP of Business Development, 908 Devices

 

Image: 908 Devices

Demand for mass spectrometry continues to rise. According to a recent Marketsandmarkets report, the global mass spectrometry market is expected to reach $5.9 billion by 2018. That’s a healthy compounded annual growth rate of 8.7%. Since its earliest demonstration more than 100 years ago, this analytical technique has become known as the “gold standard” of chemical analysis and can be found in virtually every laboratory around the globe performing a broad range of chemical analyses. Mass spectrometry uniquely combines high sensitivity and excellent selectivity to make it suitable for myriad applications across the life sciences, safety and security, environmental and energy sectors, to name a few. This breadth of utility drives much interest in unshackling mass spec from the laboratory.

The evolution of the mass spectrometer to more powerful systems with ever-increasing sensitivity and dizzying resolving capability—the horse power race if you will—should continue to unlock scientific discovery for years to come. Here however, we consider an orthogonal direction in development—portable devices that can bring analysis to the point of need. In considering this evolutionary path we see a strong influence from both miniaturization and consumerization trends.

As the mass spec community is able to achieve true portability—learning from the consumer world with the development of handheld smart devices that provide answers-on-the-go, chemical analysis will be dramatically changed.

Mass spectrometry: Yesterday and today
In the analytical sciences there’s a common image of using mass spectrometry: researchers in white coats analyzing spectra generated by a machine the size of a refrigerator. Because conventional mass spectrometers operate under extreme vacuum, they’re coupled with large pumps that are expensive, bulky, power hungry and extremely fragile. Together, the size, cost and fragility of conventional systems traditionally limited mass spectrometry to laboratory use. These powerhouse systems are designed to accommodate a wide variety of often-disparate needs, and this flexibility adds complexity in both operation and maintenance.

Several groups have explored hardening and form factor alterations to bring mass spec out of the central laboratory. Today’s transportable instruments, such as Agilent’s 5975T, still have the size and weight of laboratory systems (around 150 lbs), but are sufficiently hardened to be movable. While these systems remain relatively fragile and complex to use, they’re deployed in a range of mobile laboratories.

A few person-portable systems, or “luggables” as they are often referred, have been introduced within the last 20 years, enabling some mass spec analysis in the field. Considering successive generations of Inficon’s Hapsite instrument, first introduced in the mid-90s, or more recent offerings from Torion, it’s apparent that improvement to the form factor of luggable systems has currently plateaued around the size of a small suitcase, weighing roughly 35 lbs or more.

The introduction of these luggable mass spec systems was an undeniable step forward and an important demonstration of demand for analysis in the field. However, widespread adoption is still limited by the remaining complexity and relative fragility of these iterations. It’s illustrative to consider other analytical techniques such as XRF, Raman and FTIR, each of which initially escaped the laboratory in luggable form factors, but ultimately gained broad adoption with the rugged, purpose-built handheld systems we see in field applications today.

The development of truly handheld mass spectrometry tools will have even more significant impact.

Consumerization and tiny new tools
Thanks to the evolution of consumer-driven mobile technology, we’ve all become accustomed to accessing data and answers immediately. More subtly, advances in ergonomic design and user interface construction are driven by the need to put complex technologies in the hands of consumers, which has influenced the expectation that technology should provide answers at the push of a button.

This consumer culture shift has contributed to a new wave of analytical instrumentation that has changed the course for many established industries.

Within the past few decades there has been remarkable growth in the demand for purpose-built and user-centric analytical tools. The introduction of handheld XRF, Raman, NIR and FTIR technologies created a paradigm shift in diverse applications from safety and security to mining and metals analysis. These disruptive developments haven’t only changed the way in which materials are analyzed, they have redefined the capabilities of the non-technical user. These advanced technologies have been packaged in handheld form factors weighing less than 5 lbs and performing very specific jobs for users with no interest in knowing how analytical instruments work or what’s happening inside. They simply have a job to get done and want answers.

Until recently, mass spec has yet to join the ranks of this handheld analytical revolution. It has taken technology breakthroughs and a new approach to mass spec implementation to make the leap to truly handheld operation. A new technique called high-pressure mass spectrometry (HPMS), commercialized by Boston-based 908 Devices, is powering mass spec tools that are handheld, battery operated and purpose built for specific applications. HPMS not only allows for several key components of the mass spectrometer to be miniaturized, it also removes the need for large, cumbersome vacuum pumps that limit conventional mass spec approaches.

The future: What’s next?
While transportable and luggable systems have moved mass spectrometry out of the central laboratory, they’re analogous to early computers or the first mobile phones: remarkable as initial breakthroughs, but still too large, expensive, slow and fragile for true widespread adoption. Present-day consumer expectations for mobile technology do indeed set the bar for an analytical industry that strives to provide answers when and where they’re needed. Today’s portable analytical tools need to go beyond simply being small; they must be accessible and usable by anyone regardless of education or skill level and provide trusted answers in real time.

Looking ahead, the future of mass spec is bright. In parallel with advances in traditional laboratory systems, developments such as HPMS and miniaturization will see the gold standard liberated from the laboratory and continuing to evolve from complicated to common.

www.rdmag.com

Evolution of NIR Spectroscopy: Past, Present and Future

 

Fri, 11/14/2014 - 4:04pm

Joe Siddall, TI DLP Embedded Products Program Manager

 

Typical NIR spectroscopy applications. Images: Texas Instruments Near-infrared (NIR) spectrometers have been around for over 60 years, yet only a small fraction of the population is familiar with these dependable tools. It’s astounding that NIR spectroscopy does so much for so many people who have never heard the word “spectrometer.” NIR spectrometers help a diverse set of users make decisions in their daily jobs.

Multiple industries including food, agriculture, forensics, arson detection, pharmaceuticals, petroleum and medical depend on critical information provided by spectrometers. NIR spectrometers measure energy reflected from, or transmitted through, a material sample. This technique allows people to understand the types of molecules within the sample. In a sense, NIR spectrometers look for the molecular “fingerprint” of a substance.

NIR spectroscopy: The past
Early spectrometers were often large, bulky, sensitive instruments with moving parts. Illumination sources were dispersed into their subcomponent wavelengths by prisms or gratings. The gratings rotated in small increments under hand control for each measurement point on the desired spectrum. Data was constructed into a spectral plot for each sample measured. Then, comparisons to references and other samples were made by hand. These early spectrometers remained stationary in a laboratory, and were rarely moved once installed. 

The 1970s heralded the advent of the microprocessor in spectroscopy, both for controlling the spectrometer and for processing the resulting data. The semiconductor industry picked up its pace from the 1970s through the 2000s. This revolutionized microprocessors and computers to better control spectrometers and process spectrum data. The advent of analog-to-digital converters allowed sampling of spectrum data under processor control.

The present

 

Rotating grating (above) and DMD (below) architectures 

Today, there are six architectures commonly used for NIR spectrometers:

• Fixed filters: These instruments measure at a fixed number of wavelengths, each corresponding to an optical filter located on a wheel. Readings are taken as the wheel steps from filter to filter. 

• Rotating grating/prism: These instruments use a motor to move a grating’s dispersed output (wavelengths) across a single point detector. 

• FT-NIR: These instruments use the Fourier transform properties of the Michelson interferometer technique. They have moving mirrors to create interference patterns which can be mathematically related to a spectrum.       

• Linear array detector: These instruments use a grating to disperse wavelengths across a 1-D linear pixel array, which can have upwards of 256 or 512 elements.
• Linear variable filter: These instruments use a variable filter element in front of a linear array detector which allows specific wavelengths to impact each pixel element.

• DLP technology: The digital micromirror device (DMD) directs light dispersed on it by a grating to a single pixel detector. The DMD is programmable and flexible, allowing wavelengths to be sampled in any order or at different resolutions. This can be done within a single scan.

Current NIR spectrometers are far ahead of their predecessors, leveraging microprocessor control, precision A/D sampling and computerized spectrum calculation with statistical analysis. Use models can vary across architectures:

• Laboratory use: These are typically large, high-precision, general-purpose instruments. The computers processing spectral data can be internal or remotely located and connected via Ethernet or USB. They process enormous amounts of data and make comparisons to a distributed reference library in seconds. 

• Portable use: Portable NIR spectrometers look similar to small laboratory units, which are moveable and usually run off an AC 110-V supply or a 12-V supply with inverter. Often they’re bigger than a lunchbox and can sit on the tailgate of a truck for use in the field or industrial settings, like a farm or mine.

• In-line use: These specialized units monitor factory environments and are typically use specific. A factory install can contain multiple spectrometers on an assembly line linked via Ethernet or wirelessly to a main control facility. 

• Handheld use: There is a big focus on making handheld spectrometers which are truly mobile and user friendly. Current examples can be battery operated and are about the size of a large hand drill. The benefit is that they are truly portable and run off a built-in power supply for remote use.

DLP technology.The future

The future of NIR spectrometry looks very bright. Traditionally, instruments have been large and expensive, housed in controlled laboratory environments and not typically available to the general public.  Use models have been determined mostly by the size and cost of this typical laboratory equipment. Technical improvements enabling size and cost reductions have made more recent generations of NIR spectrometers more portable and suitable for use in the field.

Thanks to the development of new detector and DLP technologies, the miniaturization supplied by the semiconductor industry and the advent of cloud-based computing, it’s easy to envision a future with mobile NIR spectrometers. Small, affordable, effective and user-friendly solutions can bring spectrometers to the public.

Newer technologies can enable disruptive spectrometer businesses. The massive popularity of smartphones now puts incredible computing power in the palm of your hand. NIR spectrometers can theoretically follow a similar size and cost curve, eventually moving measurements to the home or “personal use” model. It may not be called an “NIR spectrometer,” but future personal measurement devices may someday help families evaluate foods for ripeness, detect food allergens, confirm purity of expensive olive oils, assist in medical monitoring or check automotive fluids. The inevitable drive towards smaller, more powerful NIR spectrometers truly opens up a vast spectrum of future applications.

www.rdmag.com

One day, we may fill the tank with fungi fuel -- Science Nation

 

                                                 

Over his 50-year career, Montana State University plant pathologist Gary Strobel has traveled to all seven continents to collect samples of endophytes from remote and sometimes dangerous places. Endophytes are microorganisms--bacteria and fungi--that live within the living tissue of a plant. With support from NSF, Strobel, engineer Brent Peyton and their team at Montana State University have discovered that endophytes have the ability to make diesel-like fuel. One hydrocarbon-producing fungus comes from the Ulmo tree of Patagonia. Another is a citrus fungus from Florida. And, amazingly, it takes the team just a few weeks to create the fuel.

Original air date: Sept. 23, 2013. Credit: National Science Foundation

Could liposomes be the answer to our antibiotic crisis?

 

A new compound could help end our over-reliance on antibiotics to fight bacterial infections (Photo: Shutterstock)

It’s no secret we are facing an antibiotic crisis. Overuse has caused widespread antibiotic resistance, leading the World Health Organisation to declare we are "headed for a post-antibiotic era, in which common infections and minor injuries which have been treatable for decades can once again kill." Scientists from the University of Bern have developed a new non-antibiotic compound that treats severe bacterial infections and avoids the problem of bacterial resistance.

We have a lot to thank antibiotics for. Before the discovery of penicillin 90 years ago pneumonia, tuberculosis, or even an infected cut could be fatal. And today, many of our routine surgical procedures are dependent on the ability to fight infections with antibiotics.

However, up to half of antibiotic use in humans and much of antibiotic use in animals is unnecessary or inappropriate according to the Centers for Disease Control, and this overuse is the single most important factor leading to antibiotic resistance.

Although there have been many developments over the years, such as antibiotic "smart bombs", the difficulty has been eliminating bacteria without also promoting bacterial resistance. This has created a need to strive for non-antibiotic approaches, including "ninja polymers" and more natural treatments like raw honey and natural proteins.

This latest non-antibiotic compound developed by Eduard Babiychuk and Annette Draeger from the Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, and tested by a team of international scientists, was created by engineering artificial nanoparticles made of lipids, "liposomes" that closely resemble the membrane of host cells.

In clinical medicine, liposomes are used to deliver specific medication into the body of patients. The scientists in Bern have created liposomes that act as bait, attracting bacterial toxins so they can be isolated and neutralized, thereby protecting host cells from a dangerous toxin attack. Without toxins, the bacteria are rendered defenseless and can be eliminated by the host's own immune system. Mice which were treated with the liposomes after experimental, fatal septicemia survived without additional antibiotic therapy.

"We have made an irresistible bait for bacterial toxins. The toxins are fatally attracted to the liposomes, and once they are attached, they can be eliminated easily without danger for the host cells," says Eduard Babiychuk who directed the study.

"Since the bacteria are not targeted directly, the liposomes do not promote the development of bacterial resistance", adds Annette Draeger.

The work has been published in Nature Biotechnology.

Source: University of Bern via AlphaGalileo

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New insight into common cause of blindness

 

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Fluorescent staining of human macula (CFH is red, the FHL-1 protein is green).

Scientists at The University of Manchester have identified an important new factor behind one of the major causes of blindness, which they hope could lead to new treatments.

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the major cause of blindness in the western world, affecting around 50 million people. It has been shown that sufferers are genetically predisposed to develop the condition.

One of the most important risk associated genes is called complement factor H (CFH). This encodes a protein called factor H (FH) that is responsible for protecting our eyes from attack by part of our immune system, called the complement system. FH achieves this by sticking to tissues, and when it is present in sufficient quantities it prevents the complement system from causing any damage.

Scientists from the Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences have now discovered that the protein factor H is not the main regulator of immunity in the back of the eye, instead it is a different protein that is made from the same CFH gene. This is called factor H-like protein 1 (FHL-1). The research has been published in the Journal of Immunology.

Dr Simon Clark, a Medical Research Council Career Development Fellow, led the research: "FHL-1 is a smaller version of FH, in fact it is about a third of the size. However, it has all the necessary components to regulate the immune system and is still subject to the genetic alterations that affect AMD risk. Our research has shown that the FHL-1, because it is smaller than FH, can get into structures of the back of the eye which cannot be reached by the larger FH."

He continues: "Therefore, this research suggests that it is FHL-1 rather than FH which protects the back of the eye from immune attack and that insufficient FHL-1 in the back of the eye may result in inflammation that eventually results in vision loss from AMD. FHL-1, although very similar to FH in many ways, does have a totally unique 'tail' structure at its end. This tail seems to mediate how FHL-1 binds tissue. As such, this work has identified a new target for therapeutics aimed at readdressing immune imbalance in the eye, thereby preventing or slowing down AMD."

Dr Clark successfully identified FHL-1 in human eye tissue that was donated with consent for research following removal of the corneas for transplantation.

He says: "There is no better way to understand and prevent blindness than to use actual human tissue."

 

 

Story Source:

The above story is based on materials provided by Manchester University. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

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Journal Reference:

1. S. J. Clark, C. Q. Schmidt, A. M. White, S. Hakobyan, B. P. Morgan, P. N. Bishop. Identification of Factor H-like Protein 1 as the Predominant Complement Regulator in Bruch's Membrane: Implications for Age-Related Macular Degeneration. The Journal of Immunology, 2014; 193 (10): 4962 DOI: 10.4049/%u200Bjimmunol.1401613

Nonsmokers in automobiles are exposed to significant secondhand smoke

 

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Nonsmokers sitting in an automobile with a smoker for one hour had markers of significantly increased levels of carcinogens and other toxins in their urine, indicating that secondhand smoke in motor vehicles poses a potentially major health risk according to a groundbreaking study led by UC San Francisco researchers.

The nonsmoking passengers showed elevated levels of butadiene, acrylonitrile, benzene, methylating agents and ethylene oxide. This group of toxic chemicals is "thought to be the most important among the thousands in tobacco smoke that cause smoking-related disease," said senior investigator Neal L. Benowitz, MD, a UCSF professor of medicine and bioengineering and therapeutic sciences and chief of the division of clinical pharmacology at San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center.

"Ours is the first study to measure exposure to these particular chemicals in people exposed to secondhand smoke," said Benowitz. "This indicates that when simply sitting in cars with smokers, nonsmokers breathe in a host of potentially dangerous compounds from tobacco smoke that are associated with cancer, heart disease and lung disease."

The scientists published their results on November 14, 2014 in the journal Cancer, Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention published by the American Association for Cancer Research.

For the study, 14 nonsmokers each sat for one hour in the right rear passenger seat of a parked sport utility vehicle behind a smoker in the driver's seat. During that time, the smoker smoked three cigarettes. The front and rear windows were opened 10 centimeters, or almost four inches.

Before being exposed to the smoke and then eight hours afterward, the nonsmokers' urine was analyzed for biomarkers of nine chemical compounds found in cigarette smoke that are associated with cancer, cardiovascular disease and respiratory diseases. Seven biomarkers showed a significant increase following exposure to secondhand smoke.

"This tells us that people, especially children and adults with preexisting health conditions such as asthma or a history of heart disease should be protected from secondhand smoke exposure in cars," said lead author Gideon St. Helen, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher in the UCSF Department of Medicine.

The scientists cautioned that the research might not represent smoking situations in most cars because the stationary vehicle used in the research would provide less ventilation than a moving car.

"Nonetheless, the air samples we took were similar in makeup to those seen in previous smoking studies that used closed cars and cars with different ventilation systems in operation," said St. Helen. "And so we believe that the general levels of risk to nonsmokers that we present is realistic."

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Story Source:

The above story is based on materials provided by University of California - San Francisco. The original article was written by Elizabeth Fernandez. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

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Journal Reference:

1. Gideon St. Helen, Peyton Jacob III, Margaret Peng, Delia A. Dempsey, S. Katharine Hammond, and Neal L. Benowitz. Intake of Toxic and Carcinogenic Volatile Organic Compounds from Secondhand Smoke in Motor Vehicles. Cancer, Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, November 2014 DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-14-0548

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How to get teens, young adults with chronic conditions to take their medications

 

November 14, 2014

American Society of Nephrology (ASN)

Many young patients with chronic conditions don’t take their medications correctly, but two new studies point to ways to address such medication non-adherence. "Young adult patients are at a critical point in their educational, psychological, and professional development that will shape their future life. Increasing the survival of their transplants will lead to higher levels of education and employment rates, which will be financially beneficial to society," said one researcher.

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Many young patients with chronic conditions don't take their medications correctly, but 2 new studies point to ways to address such medication non-adherence. The studies will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2014 November 11-16 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, PA.

In one study, researchers led by Frederick Kaskel, MD, PhD (Albert Einstein College of Medicine) and Oleh Akchurin, MD (Weill Cornell College of Medicine) looked to see how young patients are using smart phones to help them take their medications. They surveyed patients at a pediatric kidney clinic. The researchers found that the majority of teens continued to use traditional techniques of improving medication adherence, such as filling pillboxes and incorporating medications into their daily routines. Ninety-three percent of surveyed teens had a smart phone in their personal possession, but only 29% were aware about medical mobile apps, even though 50% said they used cell phones for some kind of reminders to take medications. Boys were more likely to use cell phones to remember to take medications than girls and the prevalence of 100% self-reported medication adherence was higher in teens who used cell phones for reminders.

"This study demonstrates that a number of inner city teenagers with kidney disorders are utilizing their cell phones for the management of medication administration even in the absence of organized program promoting such use," said Dr. Akchurin. "Further research efforts are required to fully describe the contemporary pattern of smart phone-based technology use in medication adherence in this population in order to allow health care providers a meaningful way to incorporate these existing practices into daily clinical activity."

In another study of kidney transplant recipients aged 17 to 30 years, Jeroen Bastiaan van der Net, MD, PhD, Paul Harden, FRCP (Oxford University Hospital, in the UK) and their colleagues found that patients who were involved in a dedicated Young Adult Service were 4 times less likely to experience loss of function of their donated organ than young adult patients who were not involved in this service. Key features of a successful Young Adult Service are a dedicated team comprised of a key physician, nurse practitioner, and youth worker; Young Adult Clinics for patients within a community setting such as a sports club or university; and peer interactions through social events such as bowling or other activities.

"Young adult patients are at a critical point in their educational, psychological, and professional development that will shape their future life. Increasing the survival of their transplants will lead to higher levels of education and employment rates, which will be financially beneficial to society," said Dr. Harden.

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Story Source:

The above story is based on materials provided by American Society of Nephrology (ASN). Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

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Sleep apnea may contribute to kidney disease progression

 

November 14, 2014

American Society of Nephrology (ASN)

Sleep apnea may accelerate kidney function decline in diabetic patients with kidney disease, a study shows. "This study shows that a high-risk score for obstructive sleep apnea is common in non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with diabetic nephropathy and is associated with more rapid loss of renal function," the investigators concluded. "This simple approach identifies patients at higher risk of CKD progression."

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Sleep apnea may accelerate kidney function decline in diabetic patients with kidney disease, according to a study that will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2014 November 11-16 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, PA.

Type 2 diabetes often contributes to the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Because obstructive sleep apnea is common in patients with type 2 diabetes, investigators wonder whether disordered sleep might play a role in the link between diabetes and kidney dysfunction. To investigate, researchers led by Roberto Pisoni, MD (Medical University of South Carolina) analyzed information on 56 patients with diabetes and CKD who had undergone screening for obstructive sleep apnea through the use of a questionnaire.

The researchers found that 61% of patients had a high score on the questionnaire. These individuals had a significantly lower level of kidney function than those with a low score.

"This study shows that a high-risk score for obstructive sleep apnea is common in non-dialysis CKD patients with diabetic nephropathy and is associated with more rapid loss of renal function," the investigators concluded. "This simple approach identifies patients at higher risk of CKD progression."

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Story Source:

The above story is based on materials provided by American Society of Nephrology (ASN). Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

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Crucial mechanism driving colliding epidemics of smoking, TB unlocked by scientists

 

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TB is an infectious disease that kills 1.5 million people each year, and smoking is the biggest driver of the global TB epidemic. Medical scientists at Trinity College Dublin and St James's Hospital in Ireland have unlocked the mechanism underlying the connection between smoking and Tuberculosis (TB). This discovery will considerably strengthen anti-smoking efforts to control TB and uncovers new therapy and vaccine options for TB. Their research has just been published in the top respiratory Journal, the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. The research was funded by the Health Research Board (HRB) and The Royal City of Dublin Hospital Trust.

Tuberculosis spreads from person to person by inhaling infected droplets made when the TB sufferer coughs. The World Health Organization has designated TB a global emergency. Nine million people fall ill with TB each year, and it is the greatest killer worldwide due to a single bacterial infection. Many countries have recurring outbreaks and multi-drug resistant TB cases.

After infection most people do not become ill with TB, but immunosuppressed patients are susceptible. Smoking increases a person's susceptibility to infection by TB, risk of recurrence, mortality and persistent infectiousness. However, until now the exact reason or mechanism behind this connection between smoking and TB has been unknown.

The research team conducted the study with smokers, ex-smokers and non-smokers attending the bronchoscopy suite at St James's Hospital in Dublin. They found that the white blood cells located in the lungs of smokers and ex-smokers, which are responsible for fighting infections, showed a weakened response to the TB infection. In the smoker's lungs, these cells malfunction, and fail to make the chemical messengers that would normally fight the TB bacteria. In fact, the researchers found that these cells suppress the lungs' immunity after infection, which gives the TB bacteria a chance to take over.

Joseph Keane is Professor of Medicine at Trinity and St James's Hospital, HRB Clinician Scientist, and the senior author of the study. He said: "TB remains a huge global health problem, affecting millions worldwide. It has been known for some time that smokers are more susceptible to getting TB and nearly 80% of the world's one billion smokers live in countries of high TB prevalence. Therefore, while HIV is a key driver of the disease, numerically, smoking is more prevalent than HIV, making smoking the biggest global driver of the TB epidemic."

"This study provides evidence which explains the link between smoking and TB and should considerably strengthen anti-smoking efforts to control TB. However, the widespread emergence of multi-drug resistance TB means we badly need new therapy and vaccine options for TB. We are already applying the findings of this study to develop new treatment options."

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Story Source:

The above story is based on materials provided by Trinity College Dublin. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

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Journal Reference:

1. Seónadh M O'Leary, Michelle M Coleman, Wui Mei Chew, Colette Morrow, Anne Marie McLaughlin, Laura E Gleeson, Mary P O'Sullivan, Joseph Keane. Cigarette Smoking Impairs Human Pulmonary Immunity toMycobacterium tuberculosis. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 2014; 141112083842005 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201407-1385OC

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HRK8000 A Auto Ref-Keratometer

 

 

Name:
HRK8000 A Auto Ref-Keratometer Serial Number: HRK8000 A

Manufacturer Name:
HUVITZ ( FOR EXPORT ONLY )

HRK8000 A - Autorefractor Keratometer

Extreme Precision & Accuracy !

Most Advanced Wavefront Technology

High Order Aberrometry Data Output Opens Possbilities for High Market trended customized lens applications.

Wavefront Technology measures the wavefront of light reflected from the retina and the refractive power with various sensors divided by sectors and analyzes them with extreme precision.

Micro Lens Array

Huvitz’ own developed Micro Lens Array creates a number of separated focal spots, of which the pattern provides valuable information of the customer’s ocular system.

Customized Lens Manufacturing

High order aberration and Zernike map data output function allow premium custom spectacle or contact lens manufacturers to improves vision accuracy and power.

High order aberration data such as Coma, Trefoil, Spherical Aberration, Secondary Astigmatism, and Tetrafoil, which was only available in wavefront aberrometers, now is available in Huvitz HRK-8000A! Clinical usage of this data is all in your hands!

Besides the conventional data such as Spherical, Cylinder and Axis, the high order aberration data is displayed in a graphical Zernike refraction map for better understanding of patient’s eyes and superior clinical decision making. Besides the conventional data such as Spherical, Cylinder and Axis, the high order aberration data is displayed in a graphical Zernike refraction map for better understanding of patient’s eyes and superior clinical decision making.

Point Spread Function (PSF) and chart simulation of retinal display can make patients understood in a much better way of their clinical status of eyes and customized lens benefits.

The World's First Contact Fitting Guides and Recommendations.

The Full Color CCD camera and white LED light source in the auto refkeratometer enable you to see eyes and contact lens fitting status which was previously only possible with slit lamps.

HRK-8000A provides peripheral keratometry measurement data that can be greatly useful for fitting contact lenses.

The World’s First contact lens fitting function in an auto ref-keratometer enables you to see fluorescein liquid with blue illumination. The HRK-8000A also analyzes and simulates the lens fitting status with automatic calculation and recommendation.

Contact Lens Prescription Guide

Image capture and contrast regulation is possible. The HRK-8000A gives you the best On-K fitting guide based on the base curve and KER value measured!

Ultra High Precision KER Data

Mire ring and LED sources enable highly reliable keratometry data of the corneal base curve to be obtained.

Unmatched Performance & Speed Provides Comfortable User Enviroment.

High brightness and contrast VGA 7” wide color TFT LCD screen provides with high resolution video images. Smooth and free tilting function also offers you a comfortable and clear view at any angle.

Auto Tracking

The cutting edge auto sensor and 3 dimensional movement mechanism enables you to track down a measuring focus of an eye automatically and complete the measurement perfectly even with an inexperienced user.

In case a measuring point is out of auto tracking range, the animated guide on the screen suggests how to operate the joystick in the easiest and most intuitive way.

Vision Comparison Function

The internal chart provides a vision comparison function of current vision and corrected vision.

Just by pressing the Up & Down buttons, users can set the height of the measuring point comfortably and quickly

Faster Measurement Speed

Faster measurement speed than any other competitors’ equipment!

Comfortable One Touch Lock

The upper moving stage can be locked easily with the one touch button, making locking smooth and easy.

Automatic paper cutting and one touch paper roll change functions are new advantages of the HRK-8000A.

Ext. Monitor & Network Connectivity

Full HD video output through the HDMI port provides a differentiated explanation base for clinical consulting with your patients. HRK-8000A supports network connectivity with Huvitz Digital Refraction System enabling easy and fast refraction in networking.

Unlike many conventional diagnostic devices, HRK-8000A is based on Hartmann-Shack wavefront sensor, which analyzes many focal spots of a light wavefront.

It has the ability to measure not just the basic refraction error of a customer, but to obtain a spatially resolved refraction map. The new HRK-8000A utilizes a unique wavefront analysis algorithm and surpasses conventional and simple refraction offering added values with high order aberration data output for customized lenses and observation of patients before and after refractive surgery. Experience the whole new wavefront Auto Ref Keratometer form

Huvitz, HRK-8000A!

Image showing the Huvitz HRK8000 A connected to an external monitor (optional)

SPECIFICATIONS

MEASUREMENT MODE

K/R Mode Continuous Keratometry & Refractometry

REF Mode Refractometry

KER Mode Keratometry

CLBC Mode Contact Lens Base Curve Measurement

KER P Mode Peripheral Keratometry

Color View Mode Color View & Contact Lens Fitting Assistance

(White & Blue LED Light)

REFRACTOMETRY

Vertex Distanc(VD) 0.0, 12.0, 13.5, 15.0

Sphere(SPH) -30.00~+25.00 (VD=12mm)

(Increments: 0.01, 0.12, 0.25D)

Cylinder(CYL) 0.0012.00D (Increments 0.01, 0.12, 0.25D)

CLBC Mode 1~180( Increments:1

Cylinder Form -, +,

Pupil Distance 10~85mm

Minimum Pupil Diameter 2.0mm

KERATOMETRY

Radius of Curvature 5.0~13.0mm (Increments: 0.01mm)

Corneal Power 25.96~67.50D

(When corneal equivalent refractive index is 1.3375)

(Increments:0.05, 0.12, 0.25D)

Corneal Astigmatism 0.00~-15.00D (Increments:0.05, 0.12, 0.25D)

Axis 0~180(Increments:1

Pupil, Iris Diameter 2.0~14.0mm (Increments:0.1mm)

Memory of Data 10 measurements for each eye

MOVEMENT RANGE

Up-Down

Left-Right

Forward-Backward

OTHERS

Display 7 inch Wide Color TFT LCD,

Touch panel with Tilting function

Internal Printer Thermal Line Printer with Auto Cutting function

Power Saving Automatic switch-off(5min)

Power Supply AC100-240V, 50/60Hz(Free Voltage), 60W

Dimension/ Weight 262(W) x 518(D) x 441(H)mm / 20.9kg

Desings and details can be changed without prior notice for improvements.

www.deviceoptical.com

Up close with the extraordinary Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II

 

Rolls Royce Ghost Series II (Photo: Loz Blain/Gizmag.com)

Image Gallery (35 images)

Ultra-luxury brand Rolls-Royce has updated its "entry level" model with the release of the Ghost Series II. Targeted at a younger, entrepreneurial market, and more of a driver's car than a chauffeur's, the new Ghost gets a subtle facelift, an upgraded interior and a more affordable price tag, even if you're still talking the kind of dollars that would get you a nice bit of real estate. Technology-wise, the Ghost receives a number of updates, including headlights that automatically adjust so your high beams don't dazzle oncoming drivers, and a GPS-aided transmission that reads the road ahead and pre-selects the best gear for an upcoming hill or corner. Gizmag spoke to Sven Ritter, General Manager of Asia Pacific, about the new car, the brand's record setting sales run and the reasons why only high-altitude bulls get to donate their leather to a Rolls-Royce interior.

We'll leave others to comment on the updated Ghost II design; its newly elevated hood gives it a more muscular and powerful stance than the Series I, but the difference is understated. You're still looking at the same, gigantic V12 twin turbo engine, the same coach-style back doors and the same "who's in there?" presence on the road.

Further thought has also gone into the interior, with redesigned seats that now include extendable thigh supports, as well as in-built heating and cooling for the discerning derriere. The rear seats are now slightly closer together, and angled intimately toward one another so occupants can look each other in the eye as they finalize bajillion-dollar deals.

The seat leather is stunning in its own right – and not by accident either, according to General Manager of Asia Pacific Sven Ritter: "When you come to Rolls-Royce in Goodwood in the UK, we have a huge leather shop. We source our own leather, we make our own seats. It's part of the craftsmanship we're really proud of. The leather is sourced from Northern Europe, where we have a special supplier who keeps their bulls above a certain height, I think it's 1000 meters, because there's no mosquitoes, or barbed wire fences up there, so the chances of damage to the leather is a lot less. The quality is sensational."

The massively powerful 12-cylinder engine delivers a refined ride; massive strength and immediate acceleration at all times, but without a raw or sporty feel: "We say in Rolls-Royce, it's a completely effortless experience," says Ritter. "Yes you have amazing power with a V12 twin turbo engine, 6.6 liter, 563 brake horsepower, 780 Newton-meter torque from 1500 rpm onwards. So you have power available all the time, and just effortless. You don't really hear much of the engine unless you really floor it. It's a magic carpet ride, especially with the Series II's updated suspension. It's as if you float over the road."

Aiding that effortless feel is a new GPS-aided transmission feature previously only seen on the "sportier" Wraith that reads the road ahead and selects gears before you know you need them. "Basically through GPS, it knows what corner or hill is coming up," says Ritter, "and it preselects the right gear to guide you through the corner in the most effortless way. You notice it more on B-roads, cornering roads, rather than around town."

Likewise the new headlights, whose daytime running lights make them one of the most obvious visual highlights of the makeover. They feature new technology designed to relieve the driver of the tiresome responsibility of dipping one's headlights to oncoming traffic. The adaptive LED high beams can spot oncoming traffic, and dim just the section of the high beam that would blind an oncoming car; you can leave the brights on at all times without dazzling other road users.

From the driver's seat, the dash is mirrored up onto a reflected heads-up display on the window, that also includes navigation and phone control information to keep the driver's eye from having to wander down toward the 10.25-inch high-definition screen in the dash. That screen's where you'll find your multimedia controls, navigation system, infra-red night vision and heat cameras, top-down parking assist and onboard wi-fi controls, among other things.

Rather than smudge the screen with fingerprints by using a touch interface, the Ghost II features a "Spirit of Ecstasy" rotary touch pad control in the center console. Without lifting an arm, you can cycle through and choose options using the rotary control, press it down like a button, or use it as a touchpad to scroll, pinch to zoom and manipulate, or navigate through the system's many options. You can even trace a letter onto the top of the dial, which the car will recognize if you're going through an alphabetical list.

Voice control is expanded as well, the press release hilariously suggesting "call Giles" as a sample command. What happened to Jeeves?

Music and other audio is delivered through a new sound system designed specifically for the Ghost Series II. "It's an 18-speaker bespoke sound system," Ritter tells us, "which we developed with in-house engineers and also specialist engineers from the audio industry. We didn't take a system off the shelf, we created a Rolls-Royce system. It's a fantastic system. It's the best you can have."

While you can "absolutely" walk into a store and drive away with a showroom Roller, Ritter feels you'd be missing out on an essential part of the Rolls-Royce experience if you did. "Globally more than 95 percent of Rolls Royces sold have some kind of bespoke feature, whether it's coachline, or leather, monograms, color schemes … We can create a new color finish if a customer gives us his wife's favorite nail varnish."

He points out a wall full of leather samples, which includes a lurid creamy pink that Ritter has seen implemented in at least two bespoke Rollers. It prompts me to ask whether there are limits of taste involved – is there a point at which Rolls-Royce would refuse to build something? "We can look at every option and see if it's feasible," Ritter smiles, "It's up to the customer's imagination. Most of the requests, we would fulfill."

The car is full of gorgeous touches that make it a pleasure to ride in, from the touchless trunk that opens with a swing of the foot, to the doors, which gently but firmly close themselves once they're close enough. There's a touch button to close the rear doors so you can do so without leaning forward to grab a handle like some sort of animal, and the rearward opening coach doors do make for a lovely and dignified way to step in and out of the car. "It comes down to effortless entry and exit," says Ritter, "It's also to give more privacy. You step out, and you're hidden by the door. You can adjust your clothing while standing up before you leave the car." Presumably before the photographers have a chance to snap you.

In Australia, the price of the Ghost II has been slashed by some AU$90,000 so that you can now buy your first Roller for less than the Melbourne median house price. But it still starts at AU$545,000 on the road, and that's before you start specifying lime green leather or recycled teak wood inlay.

Despite the fact that 2014 is shaping up to be Rolls-Royce's fifth record-setting sales year in a row, and growth has been at least double-digits in every market around the globe, there's no mistaking that this is an incredibly exclusive vehicle. Only 3,630 Rollers were sold in total last year, and the brand will never be interested in mass manufacture.

So this is likely to be your correspondent's first and last chance to take a seat in one – note how I've tastefully hidden my bug-crusted motorcycle boots in behind the front seat. Decorum, folks, this is how one does it. Onward, Jeeves, lay a gumboot into it old chap!

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