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<title>Haaze.com / eolarnl / All</title>
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<pubDate>Sun, 03 Apr 2011 07:10:08 +0000</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Nanoparticles may 'kick backside' of fatal bacteria]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=nanoparticles-may-kick-backside-of-fatal-bacteria</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=nanoparticles-may-kick-backside-of-fatal-bacteria</comments>
<pubDate>Sun, 03 Apr 2011 07:10:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>eolarnl</dc:creator>
<category>Gaming</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=nanoparticles-may-kick-backside-of-fatal-bacteria</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Every year, an infectious &quot;superbug&quot; known as MRSA kills thousands of Americans who never should have died. But an international group of scientists think they may have found the key to shutting down the lethal bacteria that leads to these deaths and to countless less-serious infections.According to IBM Research, which worked with the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology in Singapore on the discovery of the new antibiotic nanoparticles, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) killed 19,000 Americans in 2005. This dangerous infectious bacteria is often found in hospitals and other places, like health clubs and schools, where people come into close contact with each other. And IBM says that health professionals have had an extremely hard time combating MRSA and similar bacteria because they are micro-organisms that can quickly evolve and resist existing antibiotics, mainly because the drugs don't effectively attack the cell walls or membranes of the bacteria.But according to Jim Hedrick, the advanced organic materials scientist at IBM's Almaden Research Center in San Jose, Calif., the new nanoparticle material that the international team has come up with &quot;Doesn't just muck with the DNA [of the bacteria], it kicks some serious backside.&quot;In other words, Hedrick explained, the potential now exists to make a kind of biodegradable nanoparticle that can be applied to the human body, either through injection or topical application, that could eradicate superbugs like MRSA. And looking down the line, Hedrick added, the team thinks other dangerous bacteria, like E-coli, could also be in its gun sights. &amp;149' Taking IBM's supercomputer to Final 'Jeopardy' (Q&amp;A)&amp;149' IBM breakthrough could measure rapid changes to atoms&amp;149' At IBM Research, a constant quest for the bleeding edge&amp;149' IBM: Computer rivaling human brain could be ready by 2019And for those who may find it interesting that IBM would be working on science like this, it's actually not that surprising, the company says.That's because the underlying technology behind the discovery of the nanoparticles came from IBM's work in semiconductor manufacturing, it said.Not ready for prime time Though there's a lot of promise in the nanoparticles, Hedrick said these new treatments are nowhere near ready for public use. First they would have to be put through clinical trials, and that's something IBM is not allowed to be involved in. But he said, IBM's Singaporean partners in the project have already done research that demonstrates that the nanoparticles present no toxicity to human cells, meaning they could very well be safe to use while potentially addressing one of the most serious problems to plague hospitals and other public venues.At the heart of the potential new treatment is a set of nanostructured polymer materials that have a very specific electric charge, Hedrick said. The idea is that they would rip apart the cell walls and membranes of the dangerous bacteria by creating an electrostatic interaction in which the particles' north pole meets the south pole of the bacterium and goes after the microbe's charge. Then, a fluid system &quot;disrupts this membrane and basically rips it open.&quot;Other uses While IBM and its Singaporean partner are touting the possible impact their nanoparticle treatment could have on serious bacteria like MRSA, Hedrick said there are also more pedestrian applications.For example, it could be employed in low-end products where bacteria &quot;play an adverse role&quot; like deodorants and mouthwash. As well, it could be used in things like bandages or sutures, and other products used in healing wounds, and catheters, since about 20 percent of people who use them end up with infections that are expensive to treat, he said.The IBM Research and Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology scientists published their findings today in the journal &quot;Nature Chemistry.&quot;<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[DIY Weekend: Stone-washed cyclocomputer]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=diy-weekend-stone-washed-cyclocomputer</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=diy-weekend-stone-washed-cyclocomputer</comments>
<pubDate>Sat, 19 Mar 2011 07:10:11 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>eolarnl</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=diy-weekend-stone-washed-cyclocomputer</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Cute!(Credit:Mark Fickett)If I rode bikes, I'd be very into the cyclocomputer Mark Fickett rigged up with some off-the-shelf parts and a sewable electronic component called a LilyPad that features the handy Arduino processor.Data!(Credit:Mark Fickett)A cyclocomputer is a computer that records revolutions of a bike wheel and turns the readings into data such as distance gone, speed averaged, and other information a serious biker might want to have. Fickett's contraption uses a magnet on a spoke to trip a sensor on the frame every time the wheel goes around. The sensor sends the data to the processor, which is powered by an AA battery. As Fickett's traveling, the computer reports data in real time via Morse code (because English just isn't as cool as it used to be).  The data can also be pulled from the Arduino via serial connection (which we call &quot;USB&quot;) and displayed like it is in the graph pictured. A button harvested from a broken VCR acts as a reset button if needed.Like any good DIY-er, Fickett made sure all the code and parts he used are available. The code is up on GitHub, and all the parts are listed in detail on his site. It's something that could be assembled easily in a weekend. The LilyPad and other components were sewn into denim from an old pair of jeans for that rustic-yet-functional look. The jeans were cut so that the entire affair lives on the bike frame between the knees--easy to reach, but out of the way. You can see it in action in a video below.In all, it's a cute and handy invention that appears to do a fine job. Sure, Fickett could have bought a commercially available cyclocomputer--there are plenty out there--but where's the fun in that If he had, he wouldn't be saluted here on Crave.To share your DIY project, simply e-mail a description of 350 words or less, including all the geeky ins and outs of your invention, plus relevant links and photos, to crave at cnet dot com. Please put DIY Weekend in the subject line.        Matt Hickey    Full Profile E-mail Matt Hickey   E-mail Matt Hickey If you have a question or comment for Matt Hickey, you can submit it here. However, because our editors and writers receive hundreds of requests, we cannot tell you when you may receive a response.   Submit your question or comment here: 0 of 1500 characters       With more than 15 years experience testing hardware (and being obsessed with it), Crave freelance writer Matt Hickey can tell the good gadgets from the great. He also has a keen eye for future technology trends. Matt has blogged for publications including TechCrunch, CrunchGear, and most recently, Gizmodo. Matt is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CBS Interactive. E-mail Matt.  <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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