ScienceDaily: Matter & Energy News

Test of new device that protects brain during heart-valve procedure Posted: 15 Mar 2015 02:04 PM PDT In the first multicenter trial of its kind, researchers tested a new device that lowers the risk of stroke and cognitive decline in patients undergoing heart-valve replacement. "One of the major findings is, for the first time, we're showing that with protection, 55% more patients have completely clean brains -- with no ischemic brain lesions at all," said a researcher. Brain lesions increase risk of dementia and stroke two- to three-fold.

New technology may double radio frequency data capacity Posted: 13 Mar 2015 02:16 PM PDT Engineers have invented a technology--full-duplex radio integrated circuits--that can be implemented in nanoscale CMOS to enable simultaneous transmission and reception at the same frequency in a wireless radio. Up to now, this has been thought to be impossible: transmitters and receivers either work at different times or at the same time but at different frequencies.

Saving on oil well costs using everyday nails Posted: 13 Mar 2015 06:34 AM PDT Ordinary nails can reinforce oil wells. There's no quicker or cheaper way. Low oil prices make it even more important to reduce costs linked to the drilling and completion of oil wells. Recent experiments have shown that everyday nails can be used to provide an inexpensive way of stabilizing wells.

Oil palm offers cheap biofuels, bioplastics Posted: 12 Mar 2015 11:25 AM PDT Leftover plant matter from the production of palm oil could provide a generous source for making biofuels and environmentally friendly plastics. Researchers have developed a fungal culture for use in a cheap and efficient method to transform the waste oil palm material into useful products.

Solar Cells: Increased pressure creates a happy union Posted: 12 Mar 2015 11:25 AM PDT By tailoring the interface between the two sections of a solar cell, researchers have produced a high-performance solar cell from the abundant and cheap materials of copper (II) oxide and silicon.

Laser-assisted fabrication process enables of heat-resistant, crack-free materials Posted: 12 Mar 2015 11:25 AM PDT A fabrication technique that uses lasers to deposit superalloys with fewer cracks and excellent mechanical properties has been developed by researchers. Alloys are mixtures of two or more metallic elements. The composition of an alloy can be tuned to give the material the best possible properties. For example, the metals chromium, cobalt, molybdenum, titanium and aluminum are added to nickel-based superalloys to impart them with excellent mechanical strength, high creep resistance at elevated temperatures and superior surface stability as well as good resistance to both corrosion and oxidation.

Shaken, not stirred, is best for cancer imaging Posted: 12 Mar 2015 11:25 AM PDT Fluorescent probes currently used for bioimaging (for example, cadmium selenide quantum dots) fluoresce brightly enough to show up on detectors but may be toxic and thus unsuitable for use in the body. Now scientists have found that tiny conjugated polyelectrolyte-nanoparticle probes produced by ultrasonication prove superior to commercial products.

Preparation of food grade capsules for targeted drug delivery Posted: 12 Mar 2015 11:25 AM PDT A novel capsule has been designed with zein and pectin by taking the advantage of the substances' unique physicochemical properties. Zein is a major corn protein, while pectin is a gelforming polysaccharide obtained from most citrus fruits. In this specially designed capsule, zein acts as a water barrier to protect pectin from swelling while pectin protects zein from intestinal digestion. More importantly, by varying the ratio of these two materials and modifying the capsule design, targeted drug delivery either to the stomach, the small intestine or the colon can be achieved.

Tough, fish scale-like material with soft flexibility could protect soldiers, astronauts Posted: 12 Mar 2015 09:26 AM PDT Taking their inspiration from the way nature designed fish scales, a multinational research team has developed a new, flexible material with superior anti-penetration properties. It could one day be used to make bulletproof clothing, space suits and more.