Are fish getting high on cocaine?

 

Looking for traces of illegal drugs in water. Credit: McGill University Both prescription and illegal drugs such as morphine, cocaine and oxycodone have been found in surface waters in Canadian rivers. New research from McGill shows that wastewater discharged from wastewater treatment plants in the Grand River watershed of southern Ontario has the potential to contaminate sources of drinking water with these drugs. The study, which was just published in the journal Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry, shows that although these drugs are found only in relatively limited quantities in the river water, their concentration did not decline with distance downstream from the wastewater treatment plant discharge. Moreover, many of the drugs were not removed completely during drinking water treatment. A wastewater treatment plant cleans the bulk of contaminants from the wastewater which arrives from sources ranging from household wastes to chemical plants prior to discharging the water into the river. At some distance downstream in the river, a drinking water treatment plant then further treat the water prior to consumption. "Improving our wastewater treatment processes can help clean up our drinking water," said lead author Prof. Viviane Yargeau, of McGill's Department of Chemical Engineering. "While previous studies have shown that there are trace elements of various chemicals that remain in our drinking water, what is novel about this research is that we looked at the chemicals that are found in the water course between the wastewater treatment plant and the drinking water treatment plant. And what we found has some disturbing implications for the aquatic environment." "These results demonstrated a link between wastewater plant discharges and quality of potable water sources," said Prof. Yargeau. "Although drinking water treatment plants remove most of the contaminants found in our drinking water, we believe that if improvements are made to wastewater treatment plants to protect the sources of drinking water, this will prove a more effective way of dealing with the problem in the long run -- as this strategy would also protect the aquatic environment and all the plants, insects and fish that are found there." The next stage in Prof. Yargeau's research will be a five-year project to look into how improvements of wastewater treatment and natural processes along rivers impact the presence of contaminants of concern in our drinking water. Story Source: The above post is reprinted from materials provided by McGill University. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. Journal Reference: Angela Rodayan, Shadi Afana, Pedro A. Segura, Tamanna Sultana, Chris D. Metcalfe, Viviane Yargeau. Linking drugs of abuse in wastewater to contamination of surface and drinking water. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 2015; DOI: 10.1002/etc.3085

Top 5 lifestyle changes to improve your cholesterol

 

Lifestyle changes can help reduce cholesterol, keep you off cholesterol-lowering medications or enhance the effect of your medications. Here are five lifestyle changes to get you started. By Mayo Clinic Staff High cholesterol increases your risk of heart disease and heart attacks. You can improve cholesterol with medications, but if you'd rather first make lifestyle changes to improve your cholesterol, try these five healthy changes. If you already take medications, these changes can improve their cholesterol-lowering effect. 1. Eat heart-healthy foods Even if you have years of unhealthy eating under your belt, making a few changes in your diet can reduce cholesterol and improve your heart health. Choose healthier fats. Saturated fats, found primarily in red meat and dairy products, raise your total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the "bad" cholesterol. As a rule, you should get less than 7 percent of your daily calories from saturated fat. Choose leaner cuts of meat, low-fat dairy and monounsaturated fats — found in olive and canola oils — for healthier options. Eliminate trans fats. Trans fats affect cholesterol levels by increasing the "bad" cholesterol and lowering the "good" cholesterol. This bad combination increases the risk of heart attacks. Trans fats can be found in fried foods and many commercial products, such as cookies, crackers and snack cakes. But don't rely on packages that are labeled "trans fat-free." In the United States, if a food contains less than 0.5 grams of trans fat in a serving, it can be labeled "trans fat-free." Even small amounts of trans fat can add up if you eat foods that contain small amounts of trans fat. Read the ingredient list, and avoid foods with partially hydrogenated oils. Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids don't affect LDL cholesterol. They have other heart benefits, such as helping to increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or "good") cholesterol, reducing your triglycerides, a type of fat in your blood, and reducing blood pressure. Some types of fish — such as salmon, mackerel and herring — are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Other good sources of omega-3 fatty acids include walnuts, almonds and ground flaxseeds. Increase soluble fiber. There are two types of fiber — soluble and insoluble. Both have heart-health benefits, but soluble fiber also helps lower your LDL levels. You can add soluble fiber to your diet by eating oats and oat bran, fruits, beans, lentils, and vegetables. Add whey protein. Whey protein is one of two proteins in dairy products — the other is casein. Whey protein may account for many of the health benefits attributed to dairy. Studies have shown that whey protein given as a supplement lowers both LDL and total cholesterol. You can find whey protein powders in health food stores and some grocery stores. Follow the package directions for how to use them. 2. Exercise on most days of the week and increase your physical activity Exercise can improve cholesterol. Moderate physical activity can help raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the "good" cholesterol. With your doctor's OK, work up to at least 30 minutes of exercise a day. Adding physical activity, even in 10-minute intervals several times a day, can help you begin to lose weight. Just be sure that you can keep up the changes you decide to make. Consider: Taking a brisk daily walk during your lunch hour Riding your bike to work Swimming laps Playing a favorite sport To stay motivated, find an exercise buddy or join an exercise group. And remember, any activity is helpful. Even taking the stairs instead of the elevator or doing a few situps while watching television can make a difference. 3. Quit smoking If you smoke, stop. Quitting might improve your HDL cholesterol level. And the benefits don't end there. Within 20 minutes of quitting, your blood pressure and heart rate decrease. Within one year, your risk of heart disease is half that of a smoker. Within 15 years, your risk of heart disease is similar to someone who never smoked. 4. Lose weight Carrying even a few extra pounds contributes to high cholesterol. Losing as little as 5 to 10 percent of your weight can improve cholesterol levels. Start by evaluating your eating habits and daily routine. Consider your challenges to weight loss and ways to overcome them. Small changes add up. If you eat when you're bored or frustrated, take a walk instead. If you pick up fast food for lunch every day, pack something healthier from home. For snacks, munch on carrot sticks or air-popped popcorn instead of potato chips. Don't eat mindlessly. And look for ways to incorporate more activity into your daily routine, such as using the stairs instead of taking the elevator or parking farther from your office. 5. Drink alcohol only in moderation Moderate use of alcohol has been linked with higher levels of HDL cholesterol — but the benefits aren't strong enough to recommend alcohol for anyone who doesn't already drink. If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. For healthy adults, that means up to one drink a day for women of all ages and men older than age 65, and up to two drinks a day for men age 65 and younger. Too much alcohol can lead to serious health problems, including high blood pressure, heart failure and stroke. If lifestyle changes aren't enough ... Sometimes healthy lifestyle changes aren't enough to lower cholesterol levels. Make sure the changes you make are ones you can continue to do, and don't be disappointed if you don't see results immediately. If your doctor recommends medication to help lower your cholesterol, take it as prescribed, but continue your lifestyle changes. Lifestyle changes can help you keep your medication dose low. June 19, 2015 References See more In-depth

NIST Calculates High Cost of Hydrogen Pipelines, Shows How to Reduce It

 

From NIST Tech Beat: July 20, 2015 Contact: Laura Ost 303-497-4880 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has put firm numbers on the high costs of installing pipelines to transport hydrogen fuel—and also found a way to reduce those costs. Pipelines to carry hydrogen cost more than other gas pipelines because of the measures required to combat the damage hydrogen does to steel’s mechanical properties over time. NIST researchers calculated that hydrogen-specific steel pipelines can cost as much as 68 percent more than natural gas pipelines, depending on pipe diameter and operating pressure.* By contrast, a widely used cost model** suggests a cost penalty of only about 10 percent. But the good news, according to the new NIST study, is that hydrogen transport costs could be reduced for most pipeline sizes and pressures by modifying industry codes*** to allow the use of a higher-strength grade of steel alloy without requiring thicker pipe walls. The stronger steel is more expensive, but dropping the requirement for thicker walls would reduce materials use and related welding and labor costs, resulting in a net cost reduction. The code modifications, which NIST has proposed to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), would not lower pipeline performance or safety, the NIST authors say. "The cost savings comes from using less—because of thinner walls—of the more expensive material," says NIST materials scientist James Fekete, a co-author of the study. "The current code does not allow you to reduce thickness when using higher-strength material, so costs would increase. With the proposed code, in most cases, you can get a net savings with a thinner pipe wall, because the net reduction in material exceeds the higher cost per unit weight." The NIST study is part of a federal effort to reduce the overall costs of hydrogen fuel, which is renewable, nontoxic and produces no harmful emissions. Much of the cost is for distribution, which likely would be most economical by pipeline. The U.S. contains more than 300,000 miles of pipelines for natural gas but very little customized for hydrogen. Existing codes for hydrogen pipelines are based on decades-old data. NIST researchers are studying hydrogen’s effects on steel to find ways to reduce pipeline costs without compromising safety or performance. As an example, the new code would allow a 24-inch pipe made of high-strength X70 steel to be manufactured with a thickness of 0.375 inches for transporting hydrogen gas at 1500 pounds per square inch (psi). (In line with industry practice, ASME pipeline standards are expressed in customary units.) According to the new NIST study, this would reduce costs by 31 percent compared to the baseline X52 steel with a thickness of 0.562 inches, as required by the current code. In addition, thanks to its higher strength, X70 would make it possible to safely transport hydrogen through bigger pipelines at higher pressure (36-inch diameter pipe to transport hydrogen at 1500 psi) than is allowed with X52, enabling transport and storage of greater fuel volumes. This diameter-pressure combination is not possible under the current code. The proposed code modifications were developed through research into the fatigue properties of high-strength steel at NIST’s Hydrogen Pipeline Material Testing Facility. In actual use, pipelines are subjected to cycles of pressurization at stresses far below the failure point, but high enough to result in fatigue damage. Unfortunately, it is difficult and expensive to determine steel fatigue properties in pressurized hydrogen. As a result, industry has historically used tension testing data as the basis for pipeline design, and higher-strength steels lose ductility in such tests in pressurized hydrogen. But this type of testing, which involves steadily increasing stress to the failure point, does not predict fatigue performance in hydrogen pipeline materials, Fekete says. NIST research has shown that under realistic conditions, steel alloys with higher strengths (such as X70) do not have higher fatigue crack growth rates than lower grades (X52). The data have been used to develop a model**** for hydrogen effects on pipeline steel fatigue crack growth, which can predict pipeline lifetime based on operating conditions. The studies at NIST’s hydrogen test facility were supported by the Department of Energy and Department of Transportation.

NASA’s Kepler Mission Discovers Bigger, Older Cousin to Earth

 

July 23 2015 NASA's Kepler mission has confirmed the first near-Earth-size planet in the “habitable zone” around a sun-like star. This discovery and the introduction of 11 other new small habitable zone candidate planets mark another milestone in the journey to finding another “Earth.” The newly discovered Kepler-452b is the smallest planet to date discovered orbiting in the habitable zone -- the area around a star where liquid water could pool on the surface of an orbiting planet -- of a G2-type star, like our sun. The confirmation of Kepler-452b brings the total number of confirmed planets to 1,030. "On the 20th anniversary year of the discovery that proved other suns host planets, the Kepler exoplanet explorer has discovered a planet and star which most closely resemble the Earth and our Sun," said John Grunsfeld, associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate at the agency’s headquarters in Washington. “This exciting result brings us one step closer to finding an Earth 2.0." Kepler-452b is 60 percent larger in diameter than Earth and is considered a super-Earth-size planet. While its mass and composition are not yet determined, previous research suggests that planets the size of Kepler-452b have a good chance of being rocky. While Kepler-452b is larger than Earth, its 385-day orbit is only 5 percent longer. The planet is 5 percent farther from its parent star Kepler-452 than Earth is from the Sun. Kepler-452 is 6 billion years old, 1.5 billion years older than our sun, has the same temperature, and is 20 percent brighter and has a diameter 10 percent larger. “We can think of Kepler-452b as an older, biggercousin to Earth, providing an opportunity to understand and reflect upon Earth’s evolving environment," said Jon Jenkins, Kepler data analysis lead at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California, who led the team that discovered Kepler-452b. "It’s awe-inspiring to consider that this planet has spent 6 billion years in the habitable zone of its star; longer than Earth. That’s substantial opportunity for life to arise, should all the necessary ingredients and conditions for life exist on this planet.” To help confirm the finding and better determine the properties of the Kepler-452 system, the team conducted ground-based observations at the University of Texas at Austin's McDonald Observatory, the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory on Mt. Hopkins, Arizona, and the W. M. Keck Observatory atop Mauna Kea in Hawaii. These measurements were key for the researchers to confirm the planetary nature of Kepler-452b, to refine the size and brightness of its host star and to better pin down the size of the planet and its orbit. The Kepler-452 system is located 1,400 light-years away in the constellation Cygnus. The research paper reporting this finding has been accepted for publication in The Astronomical Journal. In addition to confirming Kepler-452b, the Kepler team has increased the number of new exoplanet candidates by 521 from their analysis of observations conducted from May 2009 to May 2013, raising the number of planet candidates detected by the Kepler mission to 4,696. Candidates require follow-up observations and analysis to verify they are actual planets. Twelve of the new planet candidates have diameters between one to two times that of Earth, and orbit in their star's habitable zone. Of these, nine orbit stars that are similar to our sun in size and temperature. “We've been able to fully automate our process of identifying planet candidates, which means we can finally assess every transit signal in the entire Kepler dataset quickly and uniformly,” said Jeff Coughlin, Kepler scientist at the SETI Institute in Mountain View, California, who led the analysis of a new candidate catalog. “This gives astronomers a statistically sound population of planet candidates to accurately determine the number of small, possibly rocky planets like Earth in our Milky Way galaxy.” These findings, presented in the seventh Kepler Candidate Catalog, will be submitted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal. These findings are derived from data publicly available on the NASA Exoplanet Archive. Scientists now are producing the last catalog based on the original Kepler mission’s four-year data set. The final analysis will be conducted using sophisticated software that is increasingly sensitive to the tiny telltale signatures of Earth-size planets. Ames manages the Kepler and K2 missions for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, managed Kepler mission development. Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corporation operates the flight system with support from the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado in Boulder. For more information about the Kepler mission, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/kepler A related feature story about other potentially habitable planets is online at: http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/finding-another-earth Felicia Chou Headquarters, Washington 202-358-0257 felicia.chou@nasa.gov Michele Johnson Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. 650-604-6982 michele.johnson@nasa.gov Last Updated: July 23, 2015 Editor: Michele Johnson

July 23, 1999, Chandra X-ray Observatory Awaits Deployment

 

 

This 70mm frame shows the 50,162-pound Chandra X-ray Observatory before it was tilted upward for its release from the Space Shuttle Columbia's payload bay on July 23, 1999, just a few hours following the shuttle's arrival in Earth orbit. Chandra was spring-ejected from a cradle in the payload bay at 6:47 a.m. Central time. Commander Eileen Collins, the first female Shuttle Commander, maneuvered Columbia to a safe distance away from the telescope as an internal timer counted down to the first of a two-phase ignition of the solid-fuel Inertial Upper Stage (IUS). The IUS lit up as scheduled at 7:47 a.m., and a few minutes later, shut down as planned, sending Chandra on a highly elliptical orbit which was refined over the next few weeks by a series of firings of telescope thrusters, designed to place Chandra in an orbit about 6900 x 87,000 statute miles above the Earth.

In August 2015, Chandra will pass the 16th anniversary of another milestone in the mission – the release of the “First Light” images from the telescope. As of July 1st, 2015, Chandra has traveled over 17 billion miles while completing about 2,200 orbits of the Earth. Chandra has made over 14,000 observations over the last 16 years. The targets include objects as close as the Earth and as distant as black holes near the edge of the observable universe.

Image Credit: NASA/JSC

Last Updated: July 23, 2015

Editor: NASA Administrator

Metal foams could provide lightweight radiation shielding

 

A sample of the composite metal foam developed by Rabiei's research team (Credit: Afsaneh Rabiei) Radiation generally comes under the heading of "things you want to stay away from," so it's no surprise that radiation shielding is a high priority in many industries. However, current shielding is bulky and heavy, so a North Carolina State University team is developing a new lightweight shielding based on foam metals that can block X-rays, gamma rays, and neutron radiation, as well as withstanding high-energy impact collisions. Though they aren't very familiar to the public, foam metals have been around for over a century. In its simplest form, a foam is made by bubbling a gas through molten metal to form a light froth that cools into a lightweight matrix. This produces a foam that is lighter than conventional metals, but has comparable strength. Foams can also be made by milling or 3D printing, but whatever the method, they are expensive and difficult to manufacture, so their uses are restricted to very specialized applications, such as spacecraft or advanced cooling systems. The new foam metal being developed by the NC State team led by Afsaneh Rabiei, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, was originally created as a strong, lightweight material for military and transportation applications, but Rabiei became curious about its potential in radiation shielding. The result was a high-Z steel-steel foam, which is a composite made of stainless steel with small amount of tungsten formed into hollow spheres and introduced into the steel matrix to make a foam that was less dense than stainless steel. According to the team, the foam metal was subjected to multiple tests, which showed that it was effective in blocking X-rays, various forms of higher and lower energy gamma rays, and neutron radiation. Compared against bulk materials, it demonstrated the same shielding properties for high-energy gamma rays, though its density was lower. In addition, it has better blocking qualities for low-energy gamma rays and neutron radiation. Although it was better than most materials at blocking X-rays, it wasn't quite up to the standard of lead. "[We] are working to modify the composition of the metal foam to be even more effective than lead at blocking X-rays – and our early results are promising," Rabiei says. "And our foams have the advantage of being non-toxic, which means that they are easier to manufacture and recycle. In addition, the extraordinary mechanical and thermal properties of composite metal foams, and their energy absorption capabilities, make the material a good candidate for various nuclear structural applications." The results of the study were published in Radiation Physics and Chemistry. Source: NC State University

Myexposome wristband detects personal exposure to chemicals

 

The lightweight, nondescript bracelet is made of specially prepared silicone designed to absorb chemicals around it in the same way your body does While our awareness that potentially harmful chemicals lurk unseen in our environment may have grown, most of us still have no idea these substances might be or whether we are exposed to them. A bracelet called MyExposome is designed to answer that question by helping determine exactly which chemicals we’re exposed to during everyday life. The MyExposome bracelet is based on technology originally developed at Oregon State University. The lightweight, nondescript bracelet is made of specially prepared silicone designed to absorb chemicals around it in the same way your body does. The idea is that you keep the bracelet on for one week, then mail it to a lab where tests will be conducted to see which chemicals it has been exposed to. The tests cover more than 1,400 chemicals, including pesticides and organic compounds (MyExposome has published the full list). The focus is on chemicals that may pose a concern to human health or that people surveyed by the company most wanted to know about. Of course, the bracelet will not measure every chemical that the user is exposed to. For example, it won’t detect if the user ingests a chemical in their food, unless it is excreted through their pores, as can be the case when it comes to caffeine. This information will be presented to the user in a report showing these chemicals and a comparison to other participants. Details of how this report will look are still being worked on, but at this stage they will not include any indication of exposure levels, just which chemicals are detected. "We created this company to bring the ability to know your chemical exposure to the general public,” says MyExposome CEO Marc Epstein. "Right now the scientific community is using this technology to monitor chemical exposure in segmented groups. We wanted to bring this cutting edge technology to the individual—to make the invisible visible." It’s important to note that testing the bracelet isn’t as easy as simply popping it into a machine that spits out the results. Each wristband has to be processed manually, and the results interpreted by experts to correctly determine which chemicals the bracelet was exposed to. That takes a lot of time, effort, and money. The company has turned to Kickstarter in an effort to get the project rolling and a pledge of US$995 is required to put you in line for the standard 1400 chemical test (tests covering flame-retardant exposure costs an extra $500). If all goes well MyExposome plans to start shipping the bands in September. Eventually, the company hopes that increased demand will drive down the cost.   Source: MyExposome

Sony joins with ZMP to launch drone company

 

Aerosense Inc., a joint venture between Sony Mobile and ZMP, will develop services centered around aerial drones (Credit: Shutterstock) Sony Mobile, the wholly owned Sony subsidiary formerly known as Sony Ericsson, is going upwardly mobile by teaming up with Japanese robotics firm ZMP to launch a drone company. Aerosense Inc. will launch next month and target enterprise customers with a focus on the internet of things applications. The joint venture will combine Sony's expertise in camera, sensing, telecommunications networks, and robotics technologies with ZMP's experience with automated driving technology, which has so far been limited to ground-based vehicles. Aerosense will develop autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles to snap aerial imagery for measuring, surveying and inspecting applications that will be processed in the cloud, forming a nicely packaged service it will target at enterprise customers. Using drones for inspections and surveying is an application that is perhaps not as sexy as some (like delivery and photography), but it is growing on the back of its undeniable practicality. We have seen systems under development that aim to use drones to inspect bridges, airplanes, and tall buildings for signs of structural defects. And these flying robots are already impacting the construction industry in a number of positive ways. Aerosense will be based in Tokyo and launch in early August. It aims to roll out services from 2016. Source: Sony

Review: Logitech MX Anywhere 2 does multi-device mousing right

 

Gizmag reviews Logitech's latest mobile mouse, the MX Anywhere 2 (Credit: Stanley Goodner/Gizmag.com) Despite the rise of touchscreens, for many people the humble mouse remains the primary computing input device, requiring the right amount of comfort and precision for the user. Just as with tools in the garage or utensils in the kitchen, quality makes a big difference on overall experience. We give the Logitech MX Anywhere 2 mouse a spin, click, and scroll to see how it handles.   Design & Connectivity The Logitech MX Anywhere 2 mouse boasts svelte curves and a black satin finish. A touch of chrome on the scroll wheel adds a bright focal point, while the textured sides provide equal measures of visual appeal and function. Four smooth "feet" on the bottom of the MX Anywhere 2 let the mouse practically glide over flat surfaces. A micro USB charge port is located at the front, and controls for power, Bluetooth, and device-switching are found on the belly. Those accustomed to having a mouse’s scroll wheel function as a button may feel a little disappointed as the MX Anywhere 2's scroll wheel only toggles between free-scrolling and tactile-feedback scroll modes when pressed down until it clicks. Nudging it left or right also allows you to horizontally scroll documents or web pages. However, behind the scroll wheel is a button that can be programmed (with Logitech Options software) for any desired command. By default, this button is set to "gesture", which permits the mouse to pan around on a page instead of moving the cursor. If it weren’t for the pair of thumb buttons on the left-hand side, the Logitech MX Anywhere 2 could be used with either hand as the overall shape is almost a mirror image through the center. It would be a bit awkward not having use of the side buttons, but at least they aren’t in the way. So, if you’re a leftie and are forced to use this mouse, you won't find it too uncomfortable. Pairing with the MX Anywhere 2 is quick, either by itself via Bluetooth or with the included unifying 2.4 GHz Unifying Pico receiver. No separate drivers are needed and the software for customizing button layouts is optional. With the Easy-Switch button on the bottom, the MX Anywhere 2 can pair with and toggle between up to three separate devices. When the button is pressed and set to the next profile, the MX Anywhere 2 instantly seeks to pair with the relevant device. Although pairing with the Pico receiver uses up one of the Easy-Switch profiles, the pint-sized USB receiver itself can handle up to six Logitech devices. Using the receiver is the easy way of moving multiple devices between Windows and Mac computers. It's small and ideal to keep plugged into a free USB port. Unlike some other Logitech input devices, the MX Anywhere 2 does not provide a compartment to store the receiver within the mouse itself. The MX Anywhere 2 mouse is smart enough to put itself to sleep during periods of inactivity, taking only a second to wake up after being nudged. When cycling through the connected devices, you can expect the mouse to work within an instant after each switch. Add another second of wait-time after turning the MX Anywhere 2 on, but all in all this mouse is practically ready when you need it to be. A small LED below the scroll wheel pulses red when the Logitech MX Anywhere 2 is getting low on power and needs a recharge. It doesn’t take long to fill back up, and you can charge and use the mouse at the same time.   Comfort Logitech has mastered mouse comfort with the MX Anywhere 2, which is a darn close fit to the average hand’s neutral, slightly-cupped position despite being a mobile mouse. And since the mouse is so light, the wrist doesn’t have to leverage much force to move it. The way the rear end of the MX Anywhere 2 curves down makes for a perfect palm fit. Mice with big booty, such as the Logitech M557, tend to elevate the hand. And that eventually leads to fatigue and sore wrists. The MX Anywhere 2 keeps wrists flat, raised just enough to cover the mouse with fingers and thumb resting comfortably. The streamlined shape is equally good for claw- or palm-grip (or combination thereof) styles of mouse-holding. The MX Anywhere 2 certainly nails down size versus comfort for a mobile mouse. While there are slimmer, lighter mice out there, many of them come in an odd shape by sacrificing form for portability. Despite not being (primarily) meant as desktop gaming mouse, the MX Anywhere 2 does an admirable job for FPS (first person shooter) and RTS (real time strategy) games. Sure, it doesn’t have the array of buttons to customize for macros and control, but fluid movement and precision are spot-on. Performance Right out of the box, the MX Anywhere 2’s speed and accuracy are fantastic. Those who prefer to tweak the movement can do so by downloading and installing the Logitech Options software. The right and left click buttons deliver that wonderfully firm "mouse click" sound. Although good and clean, some people may consider it noisy if they’ve been accustomed to silent mice. The forward/back thumb buttons are practically mute, like a dull click you feel more than hear. The big question many may be wondering about is the "phantom clicks" that the original MX Anywhere mouse tended to suffer. So far, the MX Anywhere 2 has always clicked as intended, never missing or doubling-up unintentionally. No fixes are necessary here, so it appears Logitech has listened to user feedback and addressed the issue. Although requiring the occasional wipe-down to clear dirt and debris, the smooth pads provide mostly-silent mousing on surfaces. Since the MX Anywhere 2 is so light, controlling it feels very airy, responding to gentle movements. Initially, the scroll wheel feels a little loose with the side-to-side motion. "Different" is likely the most diplomatic adjective to describe it. But despite the bit of play in the wheel, it doesn’t take long to acclimate. And it is neither disruptive nor a nuisance for long-term use. The side tilting function of the scroll wheel delivers a faint click with each small nudge, and rarely (if ever) does the wheel scroll when it tilts.   With frictionless roll enabled, a single flick of the finger sends the wheel spinning, scrolling page over page for almost 10 seconds. That’s a lot of document that can be covered, ideal for Twitter feeds or Kickstarter project listings. In this mode the wheel is very sensitive, so even a light brush against it with your finger will unintentionally nudge the screen. But the wheel does stop on a dime, preventing any residual scrolling after the finger lifts up off it. Pressing the wheel down in order to switch between tactile-feedback and frictionless rolling does nudge the screen just a tad. There’s no way to not have lines move when doing this, unfortunately. As for noise, the smooth roll of the wheel makes only the subtle sound of whirring bearings. The MX Anywhere 2’s thin clicks of ridged-scrolling are a touch noisier than some other Logitech mice, such as the M557. It sounds like a finger lightly running along the teeth of a straight comb, which may only bother those who prefer ninja-silent mice. The button below the scroll wheel isn’t something you’d want set to a common function. It needs either a serious finger curl to poke or the moving of the index finger over in order to press down. The latter feels easier to perform, but it’s far more awkward. Considering the compact form versus the average-sized hand, this button may have been more successful located on the top side of the scroll wheel. Courtesy of the device's Darkfield Laser sensor, tracking is smooth and precise, not unlike using a fine-tipped pen on a device’s screen. Countertops, wood tables, glossy magazines, glass desks, metal, couch cushions, clothing, and even bare skin make perfectly acceptable surfaces with which to use the Logitech MX Anywhere 2. Mousing also works on textured materials, such as thick-painted walls or carpeting. Keep in mind that uneven surfaces will throw off the mouse's accuracy and tracking. As long as the surface is smooth, the material doesn't really matter that much. Battery Life The battery life of the MX Anywhere 2 mouse is pretty good. While it doesn’t quite have the longevity of the Logitech Keys-to-Go keyboard (which users can easily forget needs charging due to the months upon months of uptime), it does well for itself. Light-to-moderate use will require charging about every eight weeks. Heavy users may need to charge monthly. The mouse takes only a few minutes of being plugged in to work for half an hour, and one can always charge and use the MX Anywhere 2 simultaneously. Although the MX Anywhere 2 has a built-in battery, it's removable for safe recycling purposes. It could be possible to replace an old battery with a new one, but Logitech would have to provide replacements along with instructions. Some may balk at this mouse not having replaceable AA batteries like its predecessor, but if you do the math it’s not that big a deal. The box states the MX Anywhere 2 mouse needs a full charge once every two months. But for the sake of argument, let’s assume we’re all power-users that charge monthly instead, so would go through 12 power cycles a year. Most rechargeable batteries claim a lifespan good for 500 cycles. But, again, for the sake of argument, let’s assume 250 cycles for peak performance. That crunches to 20 years and 10 months. Even half that number is an incredible amount of time to keep a mouse based on battery life, considering the likelihood of such gadgets being lost, broken, succumbing to natural methods of failure, or simply shelved because of a newer, shinier product release.   Logitech Options Software Although optional, the Logitech Options software provides an easy means of reassigning the thumb buttons, scroll wheel tilt, and the gesture button, as well as adjusting the MX Anywhere 2 mouse pointer/scroll speed. Current button commands conveniently show when the mouse pointer hovers over the button highlight dot. You can also invert the scroll wheel as well as swap the primary left/right buttons. Changes made with the Logitech Options software apply to the current Easy-Switch connection only. So if you decide to swap buttons and invert the scroll wheel with one profile, it won’t affect any of the others, and vice versa. Since the connection through the Pico receiver counts as a separate connection from Bluetooth by itself, one could have two different control layouts to use with the MX Anywhere 2 mouse. This only works on PC/laptops with USB ports and built in Bluetooth wireless. Although the MX Anywhere 2 mouse itself doesn’t have a battery indicator, aside from the LED blinking red when low, the Logitech Options software does show a rough estimate via an icon at the bottom right of the program. By default, the software is set to notify users when the mouse’s battery life gets low, which is an added benefit when paired with a Mac or PC.   The Verdict Logitech understands that modern consumers own multiple devices for entertainment and/or productivity. The MX Anywhere 2 mouse caters to the masses by providing cross-platform compatibility and Bluetooth connectivity with up to three separate devices. This mouse is practically plug-and-play right out of the box, ready to go, and since it’s so small and light, the MX Anywhere 2 is easy to pack in pockets, bags, or briefcases at a moment’s notice.   Unlike its predecessor, the MX Anywhere 2 features a built-in battery instead of relying on separate rechargeables. Not everyone will be happy with this aspect, despite Logitech’s assurances of longevity (the numbers bear this out, too). While quiet for your average mouse, the MX Anywhere 2 may not be silent enough for some. And even though it doesn’t affect operation, the slightly loose-feeling scroll wheel might give the overly picky something to nag about. But if the minor quibbles are of little concern, the MX Anywhere 2 has the right kind of curves and snappy performance to keep hands happy. The cursor tracking movement is astoundingly smooth for a device this small, making it feel like a natural extension of your hand. And it just works. Those looking for a mouse that meshes performance and mobile portability should find that the US$79.99 MSRP for the Logitech MX Anywhere 2 is money well spent. Product page: Logitech MX Anywhere 2 wireless mouse

Age-related macular degeneration patient receives bionic eye transplant

 

The 80-year-old Raymond Flynn was the first to receive the implant for AMD treatment (Credit: Second Sight) You might remember the Argus II implant from when it first gained market approval in the US back in 2013. The ambitious prosthesis is back, with researchers now looking to utilize the technology to treat patients with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The effort forms part of a feasibility study, and early results are positive. The Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System, built by Second Sight, is designed to stimulate a patient's remaining retinal cells, allowing them to obtain useful visual information. Images are captured by a small, glasses-mounted camera, converted into electrical pulses, and wirelessly transmitted to electrodes implanted onto the surface of the retina. Providing the implant works as intended, the patient will perceive patterns of light, which they can learn to interpret, thus regaining some degree of sight. It's software-based, and will likely provide improved results as testing continues. Back in 2013, the implant received market approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US, for the treatment of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) – a degenerative condition that affects the peripheries of patient vision. Fast-forward two years and zip across the Atlantic, and the device is now being tested for the first time on a patient suffering from dry AMD . The big difference here is that AMD affects central vision, rather than peripheral sight. The procedure was carried out at the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital in the United Kingdom, by Dr. Paulo Strange MD. The device was activated two weeks after being implanted, with early tests indicating that the 80-year-old subject, Raymond Flynn, was already receiving useful vision from the system. Though this is only the first test using the implant for AMD sufferers, those initial positive results are extremely promising. In the long run, it could provide a new course of action for the estimated two million people who are legally blind due to AMD, for which there are few approved treatments. "We are very excited to begin such an important study for this patient population and to have the opportunity to help a great deal more people living with blindness," says Second Sight's Executive Officer, Dr. Robert Greenberg. "Though it is obviously still early in this clinical trial, we are very encouraged by these initial results." Mr. Flynn is the first of five patients who fill form the initial feasibility study, wherein the safety and effectiveness of the system for AMD sufferers will be evaluated. If the positive results continue, a larger study will take place, with the eventual goal of market approval for AMD treatment. For more on the use of the Argus II System on dry AMD sufferers, you can take a look at the video below. Source: Second Sight

Software helps deaf and hearing communities interact, in the U.S. and abroad

 

National Science Foundation (NSF) Discoveries The power of translation Few resources exist for deaf students in Morocco, making assistive devices important for classrooms. July 22, 2015 Communication is an oral endeavor. We learn to speak and read through sound, to distinguish between hard and soft k's, to make the hiss of a double "s" or the slight lisp of a "th." A large chunk of the population, however, relies on their eyes to speak. These are the millions of people who use American Sign Language (ASL), a visual language built on movement, gesture and facial expression. This difference between English and ASL--auditory versus visual--has implications for how the deaf and hearing communities interact. There's no translation app to help a deaf person navigate a doctor's visit, for example, or to aid a teacher trying to understand why a deaf student struggles to read. That's where the Institute for Disabilities Research and Training Inc. (IDRT) comes in. With funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Maryland-based small business has created translation software and assistive technologies to build bridges between English and ASL. And through a partnership between NSF and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), they've adapted those technologies for use in Morocco, a country in desperate need of resources for deaf children. "We do this to make life better for deaf people, and those who work with them," says Corinne Vinopol, president and CEO of IDRT and principal investigator on the NSF grants. "It's become clear to me that all this IT we've developed over the years can go out into the world and do some more good." That technology includes software with an extensive translation database, which allows users to enter English words or sentences, and see images and video of how to express it in ASL. Think of it as Google Translate for sign language: Users can translate into both signs and fingerspelling, which spells English words with the ASL alphabet. The software also supports real-time ASL translation. Much of that technology was developed with support from NSF's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, which catalyzes commercialization at startups and small businesses. IDRT's current SBIR award includes research on gesture recognition technology through the AcceleGlove, a high-tech glove embedded with sensors. It works with 3-D camera technology to capture hand movements. AcceleGlove has implications beyond ASL translation. It could replace a joystick to maneuver sensitive robotics--the kind that venture into dangerous environments or control heavy machinery. Or it could be adapted for artificial simulation, to help train medical technicians. About five years ago, Vinopol was contacted by Abdelhadi Soudi, a computational linguistics professor at Morocco's Ecole National de l'Industrie Minerale. He'd found Vinopol's research and wondered if she would be interested in adapting that technology for Moroccan Arabic sign language. "I really didn't know anything about Arabic when we started," Vinopol says. "I don't think he knew anything about sign language." And yet their collaboration--and assistive technology developed by their team--has been so successful, Morocco's government is interested in using the technology in classrooms throughout the country. Soudi and Vinopol received funding through Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER), which links NSF-funded researchers in the U.S. with researchers in developing countries. USAID provides funding for the foreign scientist, and the ensuing collaboration benefits both countries. Vinopol's research is the only SBIR-supported work to ever receive supplemental funding from NSF's Office of International Science and Engineering. "The research promised international cooperation between the U.S. and Arab nations, at a time that couldn't be more important," says Glenn Larsen, a program director in NSF's Engineering Directorate, which funds the SBIR program. "We saw it as a great broader impact to handle the needs of deaf students both here and abroad." A country in need More than 85 percent of deaf children in Morocco lack access to education past primary school. The country has few well-trained deaf educators and has almost no sign language interpreters, which means deaf children are kept in segregated classrooms, with sparse instructional materials and little opportunity to interact with their hearing peers. Soudi has spent the last 15 years working on machine translation between spoken languages--software to translate Arabic into French, for example. He was interested in the mechanics of translating a spoken language into a visual one. "Translation between native spoken and sign languages involves not only analyzing linguistic differences, but also rendering translation from one cognitive processing modality (auditory) to another (visual)," he says. It's not a word-for-word translation. For example: Vinopol's company previously helped WalMart use ASL translation for employee training, which included teaching people how to hang clothes on a rack. In English, "rack" is one word. In sign language, it depends on what the rack looks like: Is it thin or thick? High or low? Soudi and Vinopol built technology that works as a real-time translation device and an instructional tool, converting Standard Arabic into Moroccan Sign Language (MSL) and offering resources like games and quizzes to help students and parents learn MSL. A second PEER award, received in 2013, supports the creation of a MSL thesaurus, which will allow users to describe signs (the right hand is making this shape, the left hand looks like this) and find the Arabic word equivalent. To get this technology into the hands of schools, the team has traveled all over the country, met with over a dozen deaf associations and caught the attention of government ministries. The robust intellectual collaboration between Vinopol and Soudi is a core criteria for international activities funded by NSF's international office, says Lara Campbell, a program director in that office. "The unusual partnership between a small business and a foreign university brings a unique perspective to the table in terms of fundraising and structure," she says. "I think the business perspective may help the work of this project expand not just across Morocco but eventually across the region." The most impressive results right now, however, may be how this technology affects deaf students and their families. "Teachers, parents and students were positively astounded that software of this kind could be developed," Soudi says. "It generated hope and advocacy on the part of parents that there could be better education and higher expectations for their children." -- Jessica Arriens, (703) 292-2243 jarriens@nsf.gov Investigators Corinne Vinopol Related Institutions/Organizations Institute for Disabilities Research and Training, Inc. Related Awards #0944752 SBIR Phase I: ASL Literacy Support System #1118610 SBIR Phase II: ASL Literacy Support System #0712183 SBIR Phase I: AcceleGlove: A Cost Effective Device For Translating American Sign Language Into Text and Speech Total Grants $1,153,035