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Showing posts with label Around us. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Around us. Show all posts

Friday, June 3, 2016

Toyota designed a new stair-climbing wheelchair

Toyota has made a cooperation with the wheelchair maker firm named Deka to present a solution for the disabled named iBot. Where the wheelchair designed specifically for American war veterans who suffered paralysis.
The original iBOT stair-climbing wheelchair was a life-changing mobility device for people with disabilities. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1aflUV)
As reported by Motor1 on Tuesday, May 24, 2016, iBot itself is a motorized wheelchair which is supported by two sets of wheels, and allows the wheelchair users to be able to walk up and down the stairs that become an obstacle for people with disabilities.

In addition, it also allows wheelchair users to ascend from the seat with a height of about six feet. So the position of wheelchair users can be equivalent to the position of people who are standing.
A prototype of the next generation of iBOT wheelchairs. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1aflUV)
"Our company is very focused on providing mobility solutions for everyone. We realize that it is important for us to assist people with special needs so that they can continue to contribute," said Osamu Nagata, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Toyota Motor North America.

iBot was actually already been produced before. However, due to cost reasons, this chair is only sold hundreds of units. But in 2014, the company said that they were preparing a new model that will be out in less than two years. With this partnership, the new model is fulfilled being prepared together with Toyota.
"We are pleased with the cooperation that has been successfully established, with this cooperation we can help people with disabilities to realize the dream become a reality," said Director of Deka, Dean Kamen. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MOTOR1 | GIZMAG]
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Thursday, June 2, 2016

This Survival Capsule is claimed to save people from Tsunami

Disasters can come anytime and a safe haven is the first place we are going to find. Problems arise when we could only find a bit of a safe place to shelter. Now, a new discovery helps answer to solve the problem.
The capsules come in various sizes ranging from two-person capacity (pictured), for family homes, all the way up to a ten-person capacity, which could be used for businesses and schools. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1aeNsr)
A rescue capsule called The Survival Capsule created as an effort to provide protection to humans in the event of natural disasters. The Survival Capsule is a protection system that the giant ball-shaped and designed to withstand disasters like tsunamis, tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes.

The capsule is designed to provide better protection than the traditional safe house in case of emergencies, both as individual or family. Julian Sharpe, originator of The Survival Capsule, said the capsule provides the option to get a security system that is easily accessible, day or night, and actually provide security to the family.
The Survival Capsule sphere will withstand the initial impact of a natural disaster, as well as sharp object penetration, heat exposure, blunt object impact, and rapid deceleration. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1aeNsr)
The Survival Capsule comes with many features include seating, storage, water storage and water tanks, internal lights, GPS, a door that can be opened from the inside and the outside, a window with a submarine standard. The capsule is designed with a hard aluminum frame, serves to keep the passengers warm.
The capsule is built using an aluminium frame surrounded by a hardened aluminium shell. It contains a self-righting mechanism to help ensure it stays upright in even the roughest of water. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1aeNsr)
Capsule serve to make anyone inside survived while waiting to get the help of rescuers. Meanwhile, the system improvement using the player at the bottom of the water to prevent the capsule spins up and down. This capsule is also designed to be able to float if the water rises too high, as occurs when a tsunami. Capsule can also be tethered to avoid drifting along with the passengers inside.

Julian explains, the capsule was designed by a team of aerospace experts who have a goal to make the capsule as strong as possible and durable. In early trials, the designer uses a similar program used in the aerospace industry to test the strength and durability of the capsule.

He added, the capsule intended to withstand the impact of a disaster as long as the collision with a sharp object, heat exposure will be available in several variations of capacities, ranging from a capacity of two people, families, up to 10 people at once. It could also be ordered to add an entertainment system and toilet. However, until now, the price has not been released in the market.
The initial concept behind the making of this capsule turns inspired by the tsunami that struck Indonesia especially Aceh in 2004 with the death toll reached up to 225,000 people.

"The early warning system would have saved 90 percent of the population, but 10 percent of the population would be the victims. To lower the victim to 2 percent, the capsule could be an option," said Julian. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | DAILYMAIL]
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Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Can Humans fight the aging?

Are you afraid of old? Wrinkles? Becoming senile? Or, spend the rest of the time in helplessness? All it will no longer be a problem. Soon human freed from these concerns. Human's physical body will no longer aging.

According to the founder as well as a senior scientist of Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence (SENS) Research Foundation. Aubrey de Grey is very confident that human immortality can be realized.
Can Humans fight the aging? (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1aKeRI)
"The study we're working on fixing the effects of aging will allow humans to live a thousand years. Or even do not need to die," she said. According to the Cambridge University alumnus, there are still too few scientists who study on the prevention of aging.

"So, people strongly believe in the concept that being old is a natural process. But, in fact not the case. In my opinion, being old can be fought," said De Grey. Old, she added, is a sign that the body is damaged.

In an interview with The Actuary, De Grey likens the human body to a machine. Like the engine, in the human body there are many components.

"Like a car's engine or an aircraft engine, the human body also bears the accumulation of damage that occurred during his life as a consequence of normal," she explained about the aging process.

Although normal, the damage can be prevented or corrected. "Just a matter of time until people can find the most appropriate formula to repair the damage in the body such as the damage to the vehicle's engine," she said.
That explanation makes De Grey harvest many criticisms. However, she stuck to her line. "Over time, our research shows things are increasingly significant," she said.

Therefore, De Grey was getting steady work on the study. Now she is getting immune to criticism. Moreover, after many separate studies appearing and even support such studies. One of these studies on the Metformin, Rapamycin, and Resveratrol that can prevent cell aging. "I believe science can cure aging," she said.

With the aid of drugs, according to her, the body will be fooled. The manipulation is what then makes the aging process in the body stops. De Grey convinced, over time, her research will be more perfect. Thus, hope to extend human life in a better quality nor impossible.

The genes study
Have the same mission with Aubrey de Grey of SENS, the scientists from the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and the University of Washington believe, by doing a bit of genetic change, the human lifespan can be increased up to 60 percent.

The research they've done during the past ten years have identified 238 genes that when removed can extend the life span of yeast cells. These genes are mostly found in mammals, including humans, so it may just human lifespan can be extended by removing those genes.

To identify the gene responsible for the aging process, the scientists examined 4,698 yeast cell lines, each of which has been removed one of their genes and then monitor how long these cells could live before stopping breakaway.

According to Dr. Mark McCormick of the Buck Institute, the best results of the research is the elimination of a gene that can extend the life of yeast cells by up to 60 percent longer than the normal yeast cells. The gene is a gene LOS1, that associated with changes in genes associated with calorie restriction through fasting and extended life.

According to Dr. Kennedy, lead author of the study, by removing the hormones that encourage the growth could affect the body to slow aging. The latest study, published in the journal Cell Metabolism. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | SENS RESEARCH FOUNDATION]
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Saturday, May 14, 2016

Scientists use the body's natural immunity to fight infection

The team of scientists in Sweden may have found a substitute for antibiotics to fight infection. In mice, called models, they train the body's natural immune system called innate immune, to weaken and destroy bacteria that cause kidney infection, which often occurs in children.

The innate immune system is the body's first line of defense, and work in two different ways to fight infection. The first way, researchers call "a good anti-bacterial defense," targeting and killing pathogens. Alternatively, the system that causes inflammation-redness, swelling and fever that accompanies illness or injury. It is also an important part of the immune reaction, but also can significantly damage the tissue, and in some cases add to the progress of disease or infection.
A microbiologist reads a panel to check on a bacterium's resistance to an antibiotic in the Infectious Disease Laboratory at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1a3KUV)
"So the question is, can treat infections by stopping the bad parts of the immune defense and keep the antibacterial defenses. This is what we do on the model," says Catharina Svanborg, a professor of clinical immunology at Lund University in Sweden.

She and her fellow researchers found, the second part of the process was controlled by two different molecules, so they simply turn off the inflammatory molecules. By turning off the molecule, researchers can take advantage of the body's immune defense that leads to healing.

"It's surprising because this technology has not been used in this way to treat the infection. So, this is an unexpected finding but it is a logical step that was taken after the show that they are different," she continued.

Svanborg and her colleagues published their findings in the journal Science Translational Medicine. She said the researchers plan to conduct additional trials, to see whether the innate immune system can kill other pathogens, such as the cause of pneumonia.

"This is the same for all the different categories and conceptually, what we do is not to kill the bacteria directly, we harness the immune system such that tissue damage is pressed and the symptoms are suppressed," she explained.

Given the urgency and the more serious antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, Svanborg sure, someday some diseases treated only by using the body's immune system. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | VOA NEWS]
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Sunday, May 8, 2016

Dubai's luxury villa floating on the sea

Dubai plans to have a luxury villa floating on water called "The Floating Seahorse" will actually become a reality. Developer is Kleindienst Group has managed to create a "Floating Seahorse" in the middle of "The World," a project of artificial islands off the coast of Dubai.

The structure of the villa built by Kleindienst Group is already equipped with furniture and this time they focused on building amid the coral gardens. Overall, Kleindienst Group will build 42 villas in the location. However, Kleindienst Group makes the structure villa can not move and only be docked on artificial islands, "The Heart of Europe" which is part of "The World."
Dubai's Floating Seahorses in daytime. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1a23AM)
According to the plan, those 42 villas will be completed all at the end of 2016 and has been sold to investors. The Floating Seahorse is kind of the first structure of a series of steps made by Kleindienst Group. They claim it will build 131 houses in the vicinity of "The World."
Dubai’s crazy awesome floating villas. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1a22mt)
Giving the name "Floating Seahorse" as the headline of this project recognized by Kleindienst Group associated with efforts to protect marine life in the Persian Gulf.

"We're going to make artificial reefs under the luxury villas will be marine protected areas so that seahorses can live and breed safely," said representatives of Kleindienst Group. While coral gardens in the construction phase, only time can prove be a decent habitat for marine species live.

Villa sold for US. $1.8 million, or around Rp. 23.7 billion, it has three floors which are designed to give the surrounding landscape. The top floor is an outside patio that has a window to see the sky. The second floor contains a kitchen, dining area, family room, a mini bar and a Jacuzzi. The bottom floor there is a bedroom and bathroom. 

These two glass-walled room so that residents can meet directly with coral reefs and other marine life while they were sleeping, bathing, or dressing. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | THE HEARTS OF EUROPE | HUFFINGTON POST]
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Saturday, May 7, 2016

People took more time for Facebook' rather than socializing within a day

How much time is spent by the person to open the Facebook in a day? According to the CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, the figure was turned out to be quite longer, almost 1 hour. On the same time also applies to other applications owned by Facebook, namely Instagram and an instant messaging service, Messenger.
According to Mark Zuckerberg, the Users average 50 minutes per day on Facebook, Messenger and Instagram. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1a0Sbe)
"Today, people around the world spend an average of 50 minutes per day to use Facebook, Instagram, and the Messenger," Zuckerberg said in the Facebook's financial report first quarter of 2016, as summarized from TechCrunch on Thursday, April 28, 2016. Zuckerberg insists that the 50 minutes it does not include the time spent to access other popular services of Facebook, ie WhatsApp.
CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1a0Sbe)
"People" is meant by Zuckerberg is the user of the three such services globally. For Facebook, the number reached 1.65 billion. For Instagram registered 400 million users, while the Messenger 900 million.

More longer than the socializing time
For the record, the 50 minutes it turned out to be longer than the time spent by Americans for socializing. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2014, the Americans (ages 25-54 years old and have kids) on average only spend 43 minutes each day to do social activities such as visiting friends or attending an event, etc.

In the same occasion, Zuckerberg also reveals that to this year's Facebook profit more than tripled compared to the previous year, ie 1.51 billion dollars. And the Facebook stock prices also recorded an increase of 9 percent in the session after the publication of the financial statements of the social networking company. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | TECHCRUNCH]
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Monday, May 2, 2016

Are YOU willing, if Our next generation will living on top of plastic waste?

The use of plastic is very closely related to everyday life. In addition to packaging, plastic is often used as the basic material needs of the building, electronics, household items or clothing. Unfortunately, plastic also has its impact is not good, especially for the environment. Because the plastic material difficult to disentangle.

From research conducted by the University of Leicester, England, suggests that the use of plastics in a variety of human activities will make the Earth coated by plastic in the next 50 years. Imagine, in every three years, humans produce nearly 1 billion tons of plastic-made of polyethylene (petroleum derivatives).
Illustration pile of plastic waste. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1Zqdey)
"With the trend of use, the plastic can be fossilized far into the future," said Jan Zalasiewicz, a professor of paleobiology at University of Leicester, as quoted by Kompas on Friday, January 29, 2016.

The study was published in the Anthropocene journal in 2013. It contained warned that the excessive use of plastic (the substance to be inert and difficult to decompose) geological serious impact.

Still according to the study, the Earth can be coated by the plastic, become the part that can't decompose in the soil, and often end up in the sea. When you have reached the ocean floor, the plastic would be more difficult to disentangle. In the underwater conditions which are dark, cold, lack of oxygen and made the plastic decomposition process be more difficult.
Bird with plastic waste in the body. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1ZqeWt)
Globally, the latest report of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 2014 noted that every year there are 20 million tons of plastic end up in the sea. The research studies that followed also by Jenna R Jambeck and his colleagues in 2015, which adds the data that Indonesia was in the second place the largest contributor to the plastic waste into the sea, under China.

With that fact, the sea can be a giant waste baskets that are harmful to the living creatures in it. Plankton, fish and sea birds, for example, will be prone to consume plastic waste it anyway. Facts will get worse if the presence of plastic waste already entered the food chain because of the condition.

In 2009, according to the research of Greeneration (non-governmental organizations following the waste issue in Indonesia), states that every single person in Indonesia produces an average of 700 plastic bags per year. When accumulated, there are more than 100 billion plastic bags (which consumes 12 million barrels of petroleum) used by the Indonesian people in one year. 

Yes, if everyone does not change their behavior, the plastic will actually be fossil in the future. United States had already been aware of it. That's why, since 2014, the US government imposed a ban on the use of plastic in the big stores.

Then, a similar move made by UK government in 2015. The country is enacting plastic pay in stores, with a tag of 5 pence per bag, the equivalent of less than USD 1,000. As a result, these policies reduce the use of plastic by 80 per cent in Wales.

Well, the paid plastic policy also began to be applied in Indonesia. Since February 21, 2016, the government imposed a policy of paid plastic bag. Tests performed for approximately three months to June 5, 2016, where the public obliged to pay Rp.200 per plastic bag while shopping in a retail store. Noted, there are 22 cities across Indonesia who participated in the trial by that date.

Of course, this obligation does not apply to people who bring their own shopping bags. Although nominally an additional price for plastic bags (even when accumulated over the year) is not great, bring their own bags every time want to going to shop, could have started by wearing the momentum of this paid plastic policy.

If the nominal amount does not become a nuisance for you to switch to the habit of bringing their own shopping bags, try to remember only the possible impact for the Earth and our children (the future inhabitants of the planet) as a result of the use of materials difficult to decompose.

Say 'No' to the plastics start from now!!

The above research can be used as the reference. Do not let future generations must take pains to sort plastic-free food of every kind of food that exist on Earth. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SORUCES | KOMPAS SAINS]
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Saturday, April 23, 2016

Chinese company unveils real-life Iron Man suit for fun

The incredible suit looks a lot like outfit worn by Tony Stark in the hit movies - but it's a real-life invention. This might look like something out of a Marvel movie, but the massive exoskeleton is actually real.
The real-life Iron Man suit NK-01 can be piloted by humans inside. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1ZiknB)
The prototype 'mecha-exosuit' is a nod to the Robert Downey Jr Iron Man blockbusters as it's been put together by a team who are thrilled by comic books and cartoons.

The NK-01 has been showcased in Beijing by its proud owners, Chinese tech-company FutureWise. And much like Iron Man, the incredible invention can even be piloted by a person wearing the suit.

The grey, silver and black colour scheme even echoes Iron Man's fellow suit wearer War Machine, who features in the forthcoming Marvel film Civil War. 

Han Lei, FutureWise's CEO explained: "When we were young my team and I loved watching robot cartoons."

"Many Chinese people… were influenced by Western and Japanese animations such as Transformers," he continued. "So, we teamed up to work on this project."

The 32-year-old is leading a team of 17 in Beijing's Zhongguancun tech area, as qouted of Mirror.co.uk. And while the suit itself is currently just a prototype, the company intends to become the first company to commercially produce these impressive futuristic outfits.
It should be noted though that unlike the attire of comic book hero Tony Stark, known also as 'Iron Man,' the suit is by no means an omnipotent war machine, but a tool of entertainment (just for fun). *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MIRROR | SPUTNIK]
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Sunday, April 17, 2016

Decades of human waste has made Mt. Everest transformed into a giant fecal mountain

More than 4,000 people have climbed Mount Everest since Sir Edmund Hillary as the first man who stood on the highest point of the Earth's surface in 1953 ago. Before that, the deadliest peaks which have a height of 8,850 meters above sea level is literally untouched by humans, because no one ever stood at the top or pooping on the slope.
The last light of the day sets on Mount Everest as it rises behind Mount Nuptse. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1ZS9Ja)
Now, the highest mountain in the world was covered in more than 10 tons of human waste, and filled with broken equipments, remnant of oxygen tubes and many others. Yes, the explorers, glory seekers have been damaging the most iconic mountains on our planet.

According to Peter Holley in The Washington Post, more than 11,793 kg of human waste is transported from the mountain each season by the Sherpa people. Then they throw the garbage in the holes near Gorak Shep, a small village located at an altitude of about 5,164 meters above sea level.
Queuing of the Mount Everest climbers towards the deadliest peaks which have a height of 8,850 meters above sea level. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1ZSByr)
When conditions on the mountain were friends, hundreds of climbers set out from base camp in the hope of setting foot on the summit. Although not all the climbers successfully reached the peak, surely they all left a large amount of dirt and remnants of supplies.

How could this happen?
Climbers usually dig a hole in the snow to be used as an emergency toilet. After this shitting business was over, they close the hole and then go. But the dirt was not going anywhere, initially the emergency toilet that used only a hole in the ground and then  has been growing for many years. The most affected areas are an outside area of the climbers camp that used to be adjust to the altitude.
During a 2010 cleanup at Mount Everest, a Nepalese Sherpa collects trash left by climbers more than 26,000 feet up the mountain. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1ZS9Ja)
Along with the garbage problem worsens, the local water sources are slowly transformed into toxic sludge. Essentially, the holes in Gorak Shep is a giant trash cans which have risks threatening diseases to the locals. The situation is worse because the dirt was not destroyed by the cold climate in the region. Dirt freezes and stay there longer than in the areas with the warmer climate.

The good news, there are still people who are trying to present a solution, because in fact no one wants to see one of the most spectacular natural scenery in the world becoming a fecal giant mountain. One of the leading ideas come from the engineers of Mount Everest Biogas Project, which plans to transform the dirt in the holes at Gorak Shep became a source of energy.

As Renee Morad report to Discovery News, the digester biogas is different from the usual because it has the ability to function in cold environmental conditions.

"Digester will be equipped with R-50 insulation and 200 watts loop resistor, similar to those commonly found in the water heaters and has a function as a heat conductor."

Engineers also said that an additional 100 watts of power will be needed to keep the contents of the digester are buried in the ground, remain at a temperature of 86 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

To provide the power to the device, the team plans to implement a series of solar panels. If this becomes reality, the manure pits can actually provide benefits to the locals.

However, this idea does not necessarily solve the garbage problem which is getting worse every year. Even though the Nepalese government requires all climbers carry down 8 kg of waste down or will lose their deposit money, the waste problem at Everest did not improve. Do you have a solution to this problem? *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | THE WASHINGTON POST]
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