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Latest Invention: Robotic Nurse to Help CaregiversFriday, 05 Aug, 2011

The population of the land of the rising sun is steadily

aging and according to statistics by 2015 approximately

5.69 million people will neednursing care.

Today, in order to bring an elderly patient from bed to a

wheelchair, a caretaker has to lift him or her. This act is

carried out on average 40 times per day, which is why a

team of researchers from RIKEN decided to do

something to help caregivers.

They came up with a robot called RIBA II (Robot for Interactive Body Assistance)that can easily

lift patients to bring them from bed to wheelchair and vice-versa.

The machine features joints found in its base and lower back that helps RIBA II to crouch and pick up

a patient that lies on a floor-level Japanese futon (a rather common way of sleeping in Japan).

In order to avoid crushing one of its charges, the robot has been equipped with rubber tactile

sensors. The latter can sense one's weight simply from touch.

The robot is expected to go on sale in 2015, wearing a price tag of about $78,000.

Click link to see the robot in action:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyNa7b4eHRo&feature=player_embedded

Reference: www.infoniac.com

Latest Invention: Cortex Cast - New-Gen 3-D Printed Cast to Help Heal Broken

Bones?Friday, 05 Jul, 2013

Those who at least once had a broken limb know how wearing a cast can be unpleasant. Not only are

they bulky, they're also uncomfortable.

The same problem has been with Jake Evill, who once broke his hand while trying to rescue his friend

in a fight.
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The graduate of Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand, has worn a plaster cast severa

months and it was extremely uncomfortable for him. He decided to do something about it.

While searching for an alternative he didn't managed to find one and come up with the idea of making

his own cast. Evill named his creation Cortex cast.

To make the cast, the designer used a 3D printer. The 3D-printed brace is comfortable to wear due tothe fact that it follows the shapes of the arm.

Despite the fact that this is just a concept, Cortex represents an injury-localized exoskeleton that is

not only comfy, but also extremely lightweight, washable, ventilated and even recyclable.

Evill started by studying the structure of the human bone. He was inspired by the trabecular, which

are small lattice-shaped structures that make up the inner tissue of a bone.

His idea is that patients with fractured bones can be x-rayed and the injured limb 3D-scanned

Afterwards the computer would identify the optimal pattern and design of the cast, with toughematerial used for the fractured area of the bone to offer more support.

The current prototype was created with the help of a jerry-rigged 3D scanner that Evill managed to

hack from an Xbox Kinect.


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To be able to read the area, the designer manually rotated the makeshift scanner around his arm.

This meant that the scanned shape required some touch ups in a software such as Zbrush.

Then the cast was dispatched to Shapeways in the Netherlands, where it was printed in nylon plastic.

The outcome is a 3 millimeters-thick plastic cast that weights only 500 grams. Next the designer looks

forward to working on the optimal material for the cast and improvement of the scanning process.

Then he plans to work with a hospital in order to carry out trials of the prototype. Finally, if everything

goes well, Evill will search for a manufacturer able to help him make the Cortex Cast.

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Alcohol kills faster than ecstasyFriday, 23 Mar, 2007

A new drug list was revised by Britain's drug experts to reveal that alcohol and tobaccopuyourhealth at greater risk than such dangerous drugs as LSD, cannabis and ecstasy.

Experts conducted a new all-compassing research with the government top advisory committee

involved to make a shocking conclusion on the harm of regular tobacco and alcohol.

A modern classification of drugs doesn't reflect the real situation on harmful substances. Thus morethan 20 drugs were tested on their social and individual impact and results lead to revision of ABCsystem.

A team of 29 psychiatrists took part in the study to classify all drugs into nine groups that wereanalyzed on the physical harm, addiction and social danger. Another group consisted of 16 expertsdid the research in several fields including chemistry, pharmacology, psychiatry and legal field to saya final word on drug ranking.

According to this new drug list, alcohol is named A drug. It slightly outruns heroin and cocaineTobacco was placed ninth and fell within a category B drug, after amphetamine. Such dangerousdrugs as cannabis, LSD, ecstasy were left far near the end of the drug list.

This latest study raised the question that government's drug policy was not paying enough attentionto modern state of affairs and didn't take notice of thescientific findings.

There should be no surprise that ecstasy drug was placed almost at the end of the list. One person aday dies from acute alcohol poisoning in comparison to 10 people a year who die from ecstasyoverdose.

A new classification brings to light many issues concerning drug policy with a more thoughtfuapproach and corresponding legal response.

Drug and alcohol abuse is more common than we think. Learn more about alcohol or opiateaddiction by visiting a trusted detox site. A drug addiction is usually a very difficult segment of one'slife, but with the proper care, it can be beat.


Latest Invention: Robot that Makes Discoveries on Its OwnFriday, 03 Apr, 2009

Scientists at Aberystwyth Universityand the University of Cambridgein the UK managed to

create world's first robot that can carry out its own experiments, produce hypotheses as well as make

scientific discoveries. Researchers dubbed theirlatest inventionAdam.

Working on its own, therobot-scientistalready managed to find new functions for several genes of

Saccharomyces cerevisiae, also known as brewer's yeast.
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The lead-researcher of the project is Ross King, a computational biologist at Aberystwyth. He says

that up till now Adam made modest findings, but all the discoveries were real. Their latest invention

consists of a room equipped with different laboratory instruments. It includes 4 personal computers

that work as one brain. In addition, Adam has robot arms, a number of cameras, liquid handlers

incubators and more.

Performing the Experiment

Scientists gave their latest invention a freezer with a collection of mutant strains of yeastwhere

individual genes were deleted. The robot was also provided with a database that contained

information on the yeast genes, enzymes and metabolism, as well as a supply of hundreds of

metabolites.

In order to find which genes coded for which enzymes, the robot cultured mutant yeast that had a

specific gene deleted. Then it analyzed the way mutant grew without a certain metabolite. In case the

strain was spotted to grow not very well, Adam registered new information about the function of the

deleted gene.

It is worth mentioning that Adam is able to perform over 1,000 similar experiments daily. So far, the

robot came up with and tested 20 hypotheses about the coding of genes for 13 enzymes, from which

12 were confirmed by researchers, who carried out their own experiments.

Partner for Adam

Currently scientists are developing a new robot, the goal of which will be to discover new drugs. Thenew robot will be dubbed Eva. With robots' help scientists will be able to focus on complex studies

leaving robots to carry out routine and time-consuming tasks. At the same time robots will have the

possibility to conduct their own, completely independent experiments, reports New Scientist.

Artificial Intelligence

According to Will Bridewell, an artificial intelligenceresearcher at Stanford Universityin Palo Alto

California, the robot, created by scientists from Aberystwyth University, carried out its studies on the

level of a graduate student. Nevertheless, this latest technological invention continues to make steps


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towards an artificially intelligent machine, able work together with other researchers and register

their results in natural language. "That's probably far off, but it seems likely that we will get there. This

is yet another step on the way,"said Mr. Bridewell.


Researchers Create Bionic Ear Using 3-D PrinterThursday, 04 Jul, 2013

Using a 3-D printer, a petri dish and several cells from a cow, a team of researchers from the United

States managed to grow artificial ears that are able to receive and transmit sound.

A group of scientists from Princeton University sent cow cells blended in a liquid gel through a 3-D

printer, in which they also added small particles of silver.

It would be interesting to note that the researchers' printer has been programmed to create the shape

of a "bionic ear" from the introduced material. It also makes a coiled antenna using the silver

particles. This antenna, like any other, is able to catch radio signals that the ear will understand as

sound.

However, the 3-D ear cannot replace a real human ear. The study was launched with the goal of

exploring a new way of combining electronics and biological material. The actual aim was to

demonstrate that 3-D printers can be used to create much more than just plain objects like figurines

and jewelry.

As soon as the ear is printed, it is soft and transparent. To make the ear the 3-D printer needs 10

weeks, the time required for the cells to multiply and for the formation of flesh color and hardened

tissue located around the antenna.

Together with his team Mr McAlpine showed how the antenna can collect radio signals. Researchers

connected electrodes onto the backs of the ears during the printing process.

Then they broadcasted Beethoven's "Fur Elise" to a couple of 3-D printed ears, and when they did

that the electrodes transmitted the signal along wires to speakers, and the produced music was clear

and without nosiness.
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According to McAlpine, their study could lead to further development of synthetic replacements for

real human functions, and to a type of electronic sixth sense.

"we're going to want these new senses to give us direct electronic communication with our

cellphones and our laptop devices," he mentioned.


Could your daily vitamin pills take years off your life?

They're taken by thousands to boost their health but recent studies have found

some supplements could do more harm than good: Fish oil capsules have been linked to high levels of prostate cancer

In another study, high dosages of vitamin C led to kidney stones

Vitamin E supplement takers developed heart failure

Better off getting vitamins by eating healthy diet

ByDAVID DERBYSHIREPUBLISHED:21:42 GMT, 24 July 2013 | UPDATED:13:31 GMT, 25 July 2013

Vitamin pills are big business - from chewable ones for children and tablets especially tailored for
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women going through the menopause to essential oils for dodgy joints and high-dose vitamin C to

pep up your immune system, theres a supplement for everyone.

But can vitamins actually be bad for your health?

It seems that your daily pill can do more harm than good. Indeed, last week saw the revelation that

fish oil capsules have been linked to high levels of prostate cancer - a shock for the millions who take

fish oils or omega-3 fatty acids every day in the quest to ease joint pain, improve heart health andfight mental decline.

A study of more than 2,000 men found that those with the highest levels of omega-3 in their blood

were 71 per cent more likely to develop the most lethal form of prostate cancer, and 44 per cent more

likely to develop low-grade prostate cancer.

And its not just omega-3 that is under scrutiny. According to Dr Alan Kristal, who led the study at the

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre in Seattle, there is surprisingly little evidence that any

vitamin or mineral pills prevent disease - unless people are suffering from a nutrient deficiency.

As we do more and more of these studies, we find high doses of supplements have no effect o

increase the risk of the disease you are trying to prevent, he says. Yet millions of busy Britons take

vitamins to compensate for a poor diet.

One in three of us takes a supplement, and we spend about 209million a year on vitamin pills. The

message last week from experts was not to panic. Dr Michele Sadler, the HFMA's scientific adviser

said: 'This type of evidence can indicate an association, but does not demonstrate cause and effect'

For most people, taking multivitamin and mineral supplements at the recommended dose is safe.

So amid all this confusing and sometimes contradictory advice, which supplements work and, more

importantly, which ones are safe?

MULTIVITAMINS

Big business: One in three of us takes a supplement - but is it worth it?


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While they might be the most wide-ranging supplement in the UK - providing 100 per cent of our daily

allowance of everything from vitamin B to copper - there is little evidence that they do any good.

In 2010, French researchers followed 8,000 volunteers who had taken either a multivitamin or a

dummy placebo pill for six years.

They found that those who popped the vitamin pill were just as likely to suffer heart disease or cancer

as those taking the placebo.

That work followed a 2008 major review of 67 studies - involving 230,000 people - which found no

evidence that multivitamins prolonged life.

Some studies have even suggested that high doses could do more harm than good.

In 2011, the Iowa Womens Health Study looked at the health of more than 38,000 older women and

found that women who regularly took multivitamins were 2.4per cent more likely to die over the 19

years of the study.

Their research also showed that use of vitamin B6 increased the risk of death during the study by

4.1per cent, folic acid by 5.9per cent, iron by 3.9per cent, magnesium by 3.6per cent, zinc by 3per

cent and copper by 18per cent.

However, the study didnt take into account the fact that many people start taking heavy doses of

vitamins only when they develop serious diseases such as cancer.

But Dr Kristal says: Dozens of studies of multivitamins show that they do absolutely nothing at the

recommended doses.

So if your diet contains plenty of fresh food and your five-a-day, its unlikely a multivitamin pill is

essential.

VITAMIN C

Doctors have known since the 1750s, when British sailors were first issued with limes, that vitamin C

is essential for health. It helps to heal wounds, strengthens the bodys connective tissues and keeps

cells healthy.

But despite the many health claims made about vitamin C, there is little evidence that it does muchgood as a supplement.

While it does appear to shorten the duration of colds, there is little real proof that it staves off illness,

Dr Kristal says.

And the high doses recommended by some supporters of alternative medicine may do more harm

than good.


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Danger: Fish oil capsules have been linked to high levels of prostate cancer

In February, an 11-year study of more than 23,000 men found that those who took high doses of the

supplement - typically 1,000mg - were twice as likely to develop kidney stones compared to men who

took no pills.

A 2002 study showed that 1g doses of vitaminC and vitamin E almost trebled the risk of premature

death among postmenopausal women in any year.

The Department of Health says adults need 40mg a day but doses up to 1,000mg a day are unlikely

to cause harm. Anyone worried about their intake should decide whether they are exceeding their

safe daily dose.

'For example, the effervescent vitamin drink Berocca contains 476 mg. Two doses would take you

close the recommended limit.'

VITAMIN E

Found in nuts, germs, wheat and oils, vitamin E is vital for healthy cells. According to the Departmentof Health, most adults need between 3mg and 4mg a day.

Studies have shown that foods rich in vitamin E may protect against heart disease. But there is little

evidence that vitamin E pills do the same - and some that say they may do harm.

In 2011, U.S. researchers at Cleveland Clinic found that men who took a high strength 268mg

vitamin E pill each day during the seven year study were 17per cent more likely to develop prostate

cancer than men who did not take the supplement.

And, in 2005, a seven-year study of 4,000 people found it increased the risk of heart failure by 13percent.

While the Department of Health says taking 540mg or less a day is unlikely to do harm, the prostate

cancer study published by Dr Kristal also looked at the effect of daily 400mg vitamin E doses.

Dr Kristal says: It increased the risk of prostate cancer by 17 per cent. We dont know why. But one

thing to remember is that, unlike vitamin C, it is soluble in fat and so levels build up in the body over

time.


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Experts say that one egg or 28g of almonds a day should provide all the vitamin E you need - making

it unlikely that any of us need a supplement.

Brain boost

Vitamin B supplements can help stave off Alzheimer's disease because they reduce brain

shrinkage, claims a study by Oxford University

Enough: A glass of milk and a yoghurt meets our daily calcium limit

CALCIUM

Calcium is often taken by middle-aged and older people to protect their bones. There is also evidence

that it can prevent the recurrence of bowel polyps - growths that may develop into cancer

However, calcium supplements could increase the risk of heart disease in men, according to a studyin February from the U.S. National Cancer Institute.

A study of 388,000 people found that men who took more than 1,000mg, or 1g, a day in

supplements were at greater risk of heart problems - and had a 20per cent higher risk of death.

Women were not at greater risk, the Journal of the American Medical Association found. Scientists

believe that high calcium levels harden the arteries, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The Food Standards Agency recommends adults have 700mg of calcium a day. One yoghurt and a

300ml glass of milk would meet your daily calcium limit, so its unlikely you would need a

supplement.

SELENIUM

Selenium is a trace mineral found in seafood, meat and grains. It is essential in small doses and

selenium deficiency is linked to mental decline, impaired immune systems and premature death.

But although it is commonly recommended to help prevent heart disease, too much can be harmful.

The Department of Health says men need 0.075mg a day, and women 0.06mg, in their diet. But

after looking at data from 20,000 adults, Warwick Medical School researchers found that it did little to

lower the incidence of heart disease in people with a good diet.


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High doses were linked to type 2 diabetes, the authors reported in the Cochrane Library journal.

BETA CAROTENE

Beta carotene is a pigment that gives yellow and orange plants color. The body converts beta

carotene to vitamin A, which we need for good vision, healthy skin and a strong immune system

Beta carotene is a natural antioxidant and is usually taken to prevent cancer. But there is no evidence

it works, and plenty to show that high doses can be harmful.

In 1994, researchers found that smokers who regularly took a large 20mg dose of beta carotene a

day were 8per cent more likely to die from lung cancer than people who did not take the supplement.

As well as all this, beta carotene can also give white skin an orange tint, and can trigger upse

stomachs, joint pain and dizziness.

Reference:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2376893/Multivitamin-studies-supplements-harm-good.html
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