Materials Science and Engineering Defined: Innovation Towards Sustainable Materials-Just what the Doctor ordered: meet the People, the Global Movers.

Materials Science and Engineering Defined: Innovation Towards Sustainable Materials-Just what the Doctor ordered: meet the People, the Global Movers.

Big names, concerned scietists, engineers and business executives meet to work on what many consider to be millenium class issues- To Be Treated Fittingly on WWI & II rememberance, Amnesty Day 11-11 1945.


Big meeting - constructive thinking for serious future planning anticipated and expected from such a panel of experienced, highly professional specialist in their respective fields.

Materials Science and Engineering Defined: Protect your laptop -

Materials Science and Engineering Defined: Protect your laptop -

NB all main pass words now protected.

This-Above-All: Six Strategic Mental Attitudes Part II - Strategic Mental Attitude N° I - BENCHMARKING

This-Above-All: Six Strategic Mental Attitudes Part II - Strategic Mental Attitude N° I - BENCHMARKING

Part II of VI

Plants scream posted on Unexplained-Mysteries website

Not a botanist, this research appeared new to me. This info, posted 11 May 2002, on Unexplained-Mysteries website,was originally brought to me by a fellow blogger.

Quoting Unexplained Mysteries:

"TREAD softly in the garden and pluck that rose with care: flowers cry when cut, cucumbers squeal and even healthy fruit gurgles according to new acoustic research on the stressful life of plants.
The findings, released by the Institute for Applied Physics at the University of Bonn, could have important implications for farmers since, with the proper eavesdropping device, one can now distinguish between healthy and sick vegetables. Talking to plants, it seems, is not as rewarding as listening to them.

The Bonn scientists have developed laser-driven microphones that pick up sounds inaccessible to the human ear. When a leaf or a stem is sliced, the plant signals pain (or perhaps merely dismay) by releasing the gas ethylene over its entire surface.

Doctor Frank Kühnemann of Bonn University has been trapping the ethylene in a bell jar. The gas molecules are later bombarded with calibrated laser beams, which makes them vibrate. This produces a sound-wave picked up by the microphones. “The more a plant is subjected to stress, the louder the signal we get on our microphone,” he said.

Potential material for breakthrough Innovations

By eavesdropping on plants it should be possible to develop an early warning system to detect pests and disease. Knowing the stress level of fruit and vegetables can also be an aid in efficient storing and transporting. Acoustical evidence demonstrates that apples emit higher levels of ethylene, which causes neighbouring plants to wilt. As a result, the scientists urged fruit producers to store apples separately.

When ripe fruit is packed with unripe, a substantial amount of fruit often ends up rotting even when the shipments are separated by type. The scientists in Bonn have solved this mystery: differences in ripeness are often invisible, but can be detected acoustically in the form of ethylene. It should therefore be sufficient to measure fruit with laser microphones to separate it into batches of appropriate ripeness before loading it on to ships and trucks."

Corroborated by research on Trees (ref book in French -to be traced )

"But the Bonn University team believes plants do more than chatter about aches and pains as if passing time in a doctor’s waiting room. The team also thinks plants warn each other about approaching danger. The “alarm signal” is a chemical message transmitted between individual plants: this too can be measured by the new equipment.

"But the Bonn University team believes plants do more than chatter about aches and pains as if passing time in a doctor’s waiting room. The team also thinks plants warn each other about approaching danger. The “alarm signal” is a chemical message transmitted between individual plants: this too can be measured by the new equipment."

REFERENCE_en référence à :

- Plants Scream?? - Unexplained Mysteries Discussion Forums (afficher sur Google Sidewiki)

TREES COMMUNICATE  REFERENCEI

Do Trees Talk REFERENCE II

The Cost of Cartilage maintenance, via Glucosamine,Chondroitin , better than surgical repair? II

A look at Tweet meme app brought my attention to a product (Chondroitin) that I use regularly for more than 3 years despite never ending debates over efficiency and probably poor medical coverage. (I also intend to use the Chondroitin-Glucosamine mix - as yet 3 months experience only).

From my experience, I cannot let such studies, if that is the proper name in this day and age, go without commented.

The latest very bad news comes from  Researchers at the University of Bern in Switzerland, who conducted a meta-analysis (statistical analysis) of past studies on these popular complementary medicines, which is published in today's edition of British Medical Journal.

QUOTE from BMJ news

"Effects of glucosamine, chondroitin, or placebo in patients with osteoarthritis of hip or knee


Compared with placebo, glucosamine and chondroitin - either alone or in combination - do not reduce joint pain or have an impact on narrowing of joint space, according to this meta-analysis. Health authorities and health insurers should not cover the costs of these preparations, and treating new patients with these drugs should be discouraged, say the authors."


I am neither a medical doctor nor a specialised statistician but from my experience of knee-joint-pain  found to be a severe thinning of the cartilage area  on one side*. When I say  thinning of the cartilage area on one side I mean wafer thin, the other side is substantially thicker. The standard X-Ray radiology is insufficient for more highly detailed precision of what wafer thin can mean-much less indeed than we materials scientists involved say in metallurgical research and development would demand. When I talk of  knee-joint-pain I mean enough to fear being force to no longer be able to walk, one of my last sports activities strongly recommended by my general medical practitioner)

[* Main outcome measure Pain intensity. Secondary outcome was change in minimal width of joint space. The minimal clinically important difference between preparations and placebo was prespecified at −0.9 cm on a 10 cm visual analogue scale. (my wafer thin was visually less than .5mm at an uneducated guess!

I have used Chondroitin (sulfate) for more than 3 years. After 1 month I experience less pain, after 3 months practically no pain and was able to resume my 40-45 mn walks with renewed pleasure and great relief - and hope for a continuing maintenance of a certain quality of life.

BONUS
After 3 years, I noticed that I no longer experienced vertebral complaint and could carry weighty items I was forced to avoid for a number of years previously (

Cost here in France where Glucosamine,Chondroitin are very expensive is forcing me to seek other sources.

I shall not pretend to have delved into the published study in-depth, this will come later but have looked at the definition of the complaint supposed to be under examination here, namely osteoarthritis of hip or knee.   As the title says the hip condition appears to be amalgamated with the knee condition, effort subjected to are certainly not equivalent. The definition of Osteoarthritis* is like many medical terms a porridge of number of physico-chemical ills according to wikipedia's list . Herein lies enough basic hotchpotch definition*, of the exact physical (and chemical) , defects as we Metallurgist would call them, to be examined, and corrected.

[*Osteoarthritis (OA) also known as degenerative arthritis or degenerative joint disease, is a group of mechanical abnormalities involving degradation of joints,^[1] including articular cartilage and subchondral bone. Symptoms may include joint pain, tenderness, stiffness, locking, and sometimes an effusion. A variety of causes—hereditary, developmental, metabolic, and mechanical—may initiate processes leading to loss of cartilage. When bone surfaces become less well protected by cartilage, bone may be exposed and damaged. As a result of decreased movement secondary to pain, regional muscles may atrophy, and ligaments may become more lax.^[2] ]

Now all this would lead me to feel as I did when I waited three months between the X-ray and requesting my doctors help, that treatment is administered in many cases including mine as being too late. Nothing out of the ordinary was signaled in the "full examination" under radioactive substance intake for whole body radio-isotope scanner detection several years earlier.[REM look-up the dates of the "early bird TBD ]

GOOD and BAD NEWS

"More results needed, [GOOD]


Professor Graeme Jones of Hobart's Menzies Research Institute, and Medical Director of Arthritis Australia, disagrees with some of the findings of the study.

Jones says while is there no evidence that chondroitin is effective in the treatment of osteoarthritis, there's still some debate about the effectiveness of glucosamine. [this refers to the current study and contradicts my experience with chondroitin.- Dubious-Bad?]

"The study concludes that glucosamine doesn't work, however, if you look closely at the study's results, it shows that glucosamine hydrochloride doesn't work, but that glucosamine sulphate does seem to have some benefit," he says.

"We need further large scale studies of glucosamine sulphate to really know."

Jones says the Long Term Evaluation of Glucosamine Sulphate Study (LEGS), currently being conducted by the University of Sydney and funded by the National Health and Medical Council, may provide a clearer answer regarding the effectiveness of glucosamine.

He says many patients with osteoarthritis (of the knee in particular) do report improved symptoms on glucosamine sulphate, although its real mechanism of action remains unknown.

"It's safe, has very few side effects and patients shouldn't be discouraged from trying it," he says.

I am not alone in enjoying the obvious improved quality of life benefits of Chondroitin and am in the process of changing to the mixed Chondroitin-Glucosamine (sulphates) from more cost advantageous sources. 

WHICH BRINGS BACK THE QUESTION OF WHAT IS THE LESS EXPENSIVE TREATMENT, THE LEAST INVASIVE, THE LEAST DANGEROUS.....
 
AND WHEN WILL EARLIER AND MORE PRECISE, MORE DISCERNING DIAGNOSIS TECHNIQUES COME INTO USE? 
 
WHEN WILL THE LABORITORIES REACT TO THE ALTERNATIVE SURGICAL OFFER WHAT APPEERS TO BE MISLEADING STUDIES AND ABUSING THE CLIENTS (both Individuals and government bodies struggling to maintain responsible affordable budgets where France at least this is lagging badly esp behind UK and probably USA) Earlier preventive treatment will mean larger volume at reduced price but over longer periods so it's a good long-term investment.


PS In guise of a personal conclusion: I can also do a bit of running after a 10year stop. I can only atridutte this to my Chondroitin experience. My fairly healthy life style has remained unchanged.
 
REFERENCES:
ABC Science

BMJ-British Medical Journal 17 Sept 2010.

Innovation-at-Work: Companies who help accelerate innovation and of course social progress and economic growth

I discovered the innovation focused company, Innovia Technology, Cambridge UK, thanks to the Google AdSense on my Materials Science & Engineering focused pages Materials Science and Engineering Defined.

Innova Technologies "Capabilities and Approach" page sums up succinct important messages for innovators and their clients:
QUOTE
"Breakthrough innovation relies on breadth of perspective, insight, agility, and integration.

Our balanced, holistic approach to innovation gives us the flexibility to find a fast and effective route through uncertainty.

We combine creative skills to make leaps of imagination with the systematic analytical thinking needed to turn dreams into vivid, manufacturable reality.

In addition to our in-house skills, we actively develop and maintain an extensive network of associates, including leading academics and industry specialists."

CASE STUDIES.
Innovia proposes an most instructive list of case studies via an easy to scan web page.

RELATED POSTS:

Creativity in Materials Science, Invention, Innovation - Innovation Sells.

Top Invention and Innovators Class, FREE too, online WW and at the Exhibition at The British Library, London, UK

BOOKS ON INNOVATION AT AMAZON for example from a numerous collection:


 

Materials Science and Engineering Defined: Creativity, Invention, Innovation - Innovation Sells

Materials Science and Engineering Defined: Creativity, Invention, Innovation - Innovation Sells


This series of posts arise from a pointer from my latest September 2010 Issue of Materials World, Institute of Materials Minerals and Mining (IOM3) house journal, Materials World (MW). Our professional development p.19, reported on (improving) "Connecting research with creativity" the article title.

Top Invention and Innovators Class, FREE too, online WW and at the Exhibition at The British Library, London, UK

A MUST for Scientists and Engineers of all walks.

TAKE HEED; Managers of the Big corporations and the Small business a like take heed, especially relevant in our current troubled employment and economical circumstances.

STIMULATING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE: for young and old, not to be missed.
"Inventing the 21st Century" is open daily from 6 September to 28 November 2010 at the British Library, London. Admission free.

INTRODUCTION:
Every year the UK generates over 25,000 patents, trademarks, and design rights for new products and services - with the British Library helping inventors protect their ideas and explore the business potential.

To celebrate innovation - and hopefully inspire budding entrepreneurs - the Library is hosting a new exhibition exploring the journey behind 15 of the most ingenious inventions to come out of Britain in the past ten years. Take a look at some of the patented products - and get some advice from their creators.

REFERENCES: (en référence à) :

1. ""Inventing the 21st Century" is open daily from 6 September to 28 November 2010 at the British Library, London. Admission free."
- BBC News - Audio slideshow: 21st Century inventors (afficher sur Google Sidewiki)

        2. Well ranked on new twitter app Tweetmeme

Efficient Air conditioning discussed

Will the answer to lower energy, efficient air conditioning systems come from the computing industry?

The big increasing number of data centres that house computer servers could be among the first to benefit from some of these developments in cooling technology. These data centres use a lot of energy. IBM reckons that in some centres about half of all the electricity consumed is spent cooling equipment. Mr Collins’s company, Synergetics, is working on what it calls a “surgical ventilation” system which uses small tubes with fans that whisk heat away from hot components inside servers before it warms nearby parts. This heat could then be used to power thermal air-conditioning. And, of course, the fans will be aerodynamically perfect.

(eg. If blades were designed for better aerodynamic efficiency, instead of for being stamped from sheet metal as cheaply as possible, the electricity consumption of many cooling systems could, he says, be cut by a third. )

Or again "Nature's best-Water beats all contenders"

Evaporative coolers are a cheap alternative to refrigerative air-conditioning. The air near a splashing waterfall or fountain is cooler than the surrounding area because water droplets remove heat as they evaporate. Spraying water inside a cooling tower while air is blown through will have the same effect. Whereas refrigerative systems reduce the humidity of air (because some water vapour condenses and is drained away), evaporative coolers increase humidity. This means they tend to be more popular in dry climates.

However, researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Colorado have designed an evaporative system that sprays ambient-temperature water into warm air to cool it, but in a way that also lowers the humidity. NREL uses syrupy liquids which contain salty desiccants to soak up the humidity. Hot water is used to heat the syrups and dry them out. NREL’s technology, known as “desiccant-evaporative cooling”, is still being developed, but it requires little power, not least because the hot water can be obtained from solar panels. Ron Judkoff of NREL thinks the process will consume only about a fifth of the energy of conventional air-conditioners, depending how dry the climate is to begin with.


More from the Economist Science & Technology pages...


Water beats all contenders"

Product	Latent Heat of Evaporation *)
	(kJ/kg)	(Btu/lb)

Water

2257

970.4

 

The Cost of Cartilage maintenance better than surgical repair?

Glucosamine and chondroitin are widely taken to help relieve knee pain from osteoarthritis but do they work?

The GAIT Study

Double blind

The study, like most good medical studies, was done ‘double blind’, that is neither the patients nor the people administering to them knew which treatment the patient was on.

MORE cf link below
But when results of the group of patients with moderate to severe pain was analysed the investigators found that the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate WAS significantly effective for pain relief!

ie a healthy dynamic life style may be pursued?
(This is true in my case - Add my experience to the study -Chondrosulf alone 400mg x 3 per day.

The GUIDE findings
Both glucosamine sulphate and acetaminophen were more effective in reducing pain than placebo. Patients taking glucosamine sulphate exhibited more relief than patients on acetaminophen.

It was concluded that once-daily 1500 mg oral doses of glucosamine sulphate may be the preferred treatment for knee osteoarthritis.

Note
It must be noted that unlike the GAIT study that was publicly funded the GUIDE study was sponsored by the manufacturers of the glucosamine compound that was used in the trial.


In both the GAIT and GUIDE studies 1500mg of glucosamine daily was used and in the GAIT study 1200mg of chondroitin daily was used. However, some manufacturers suggest that glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate supplements should be taken in two phases, for example -

* A loading phase of a month of increased levels of glucosamine (up to 2250mg) and 1200mg of chondroitin sulphate.
* A maintenance phase of 1500mg of glucosamine and 800mg of chondroitin sulphate.

Other suggestions are that glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate doses should be calculated based on a person’s body weight. One recommendation is 20mg of glucosamine for every 1kg of body weight, whilst another suggestion is as follows:

* If body weight is less than 54.5kg take 1,000mg glucosamine and 800mg chondroitin sulphate.
*
* If body weight is between 54.5 and 91kg take 1,500mg glucosamine and 1,200 mg chondroitin sulphate.
*
* If body weight is more than 91kg take 2,000mg glucosamine and 1,600mg chondroitin sulphate.

Are these ploys by supplement companies to sell more of their product or is there a scientific basis for these recommendations? Well, at present the evidence for doses and schedules is fairly sparse and that is one of the reasons why daily doses of 1500mg of glucosamine and 1200mg of chondroitin sulphate are common recommendations.

What about the source of these products?

Chondroitin sulphate is usually produced from cow (bovine) cartilage but can be produced from pig (porcine), chicken and even shark cartilage. Glucosamine on the other hand is derived from shellfish, usually shrimp, lobster or crab shells.

An important and informative discussion followed cf link
en référence à :

"Other factors   Chondroitin sulphate production in the body can be hindered if there is a deficiency of some key vitamins and minerals, in particular manganese, vitamin C and vitamin A. As participants in the GAIT study didn’t appear to undergo a dietary analysis prior to the start of the trial it is possible that some individuals may have had deficiencies in these key substances."
- Cartilage Health - Glucosamine and Chrondroitin Supplement (afficher sur Google Sidewiki)

This-Above-All: Walking works, is good for your health and for business -Universities and CollegesTop brains look at Sustainability_EAUC Confs

This-Above-All: Walking works, is good for your health and for business -Universities and Colleges Top brains look at Sustainability_EAUC Confs

Materials Science and Engineering Defined: Environmental Association of Universities and Colleges-Top Brains look at Sustainability_Some Materials Aspects

Materials Science and Engineering Defined: Environmental Association of Universities and Colleges-Top Brains look at Sustainability some materials aspects

New Green Construction Material Innovation_Low energy cement production by Celitement via IOM3: The Global Network for Materials, Minerals & Mining Professionals

"Low energy cement production

Researchers in Germany have developed a high-performance mineral binder, which, they say, can help reduce the energy consumption and CO2 emissions associated with cement production.

Celitement, the material’s trade name, is based on hydraulic calcium hydrosilicates."

Energy Saving

Celitement is made by forming calcium silicate hydrates in a hydrothermal reaction at temperatures between 150 and 200ºC. In a second step the autoclaved material is co-milled with a SiO2-rich material, such as quartz-sand.

‘Production of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) at temperatures of up to 1,450°C is a highly energy-consuming process,’ explains Dr Hanns-Günther Mayer, Managing Director of Celitement, a spin-out of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). ‘In addition, cement plants emit more than two billion tonnes of CO2 annually (2x10^9 tonnes CO2). In comparison to OPC Celitement has the potential to reduce both energy use and CO2 by up to 50%.’

Materials Strength:

 ‘During hydration, Celitement transforms to calcium silicate hydrate gel. This material is the cement hydrate, which defines the mechanical strength and stability of traditional concrete. Thus material properties of test samples made with Celitement, such as strength development and final compressive strength (up to 80 MPa) resemble those of samples made with OPC,’ adds Mayer.

Strength can be regulated by varying the mixing and processingparameters. ‘One big advantage of Celitement is the fact that it can be used just like any other cement.’

 Scale-Up

In spring 2011, a small pilot with a production rate of 100kg/day will start operation at KIT to perform extensive material tests and prepare scale-up.

REFERENCE:

Low energy cement production | IOM3: The Global Network for Materials, Minerals & Mining Professionals

  More on Celitement 

RELATED POSTS:

Materials and Environment-Embodied Energy of Materials

Nanoengineered concrete R & D to cut CO2 emissions (Feb 08, 2008)

WEDGE-A-WAR follows from Theory to Practice (Oct. 18, 2006)

 

Re-inventing the wheel? Inconsistent results? Failure to push all the way through and LEGISLATE?

Original title and full article , 3rd June,COLOGNE from The Economist print edition with pertinent comments, all online in the Science &Technology pages, cf ref. 1 below.

"Cleaner diesel engines
Pouring water on troubled oils To make engines cleaner, add H2O," (an old idea)



Motivation for action

"Research by James Corbett of the University of Delaware estimates that soot from ships’ diesels contributes to 60,000 deaths from heart and lung disease every year."

The problem
Water & Oil do not mix naturally.

Solution

The current innovative solution reported in The Economist is due to Reinhard Strey of the University of Cologne. He uses surfactants- to a class of chemical substances which, usually in small quantities, modify the interfacial tension existing between different substances, here, H20 and Oil. Dish washing liquids are the best known household surfactants which work in this principle. removing oil and grease from our dinner plate.

Apparently many attempts to improve combustion using water and surfactants failed.
Now, Dr Strey after extensive research eventually lighted on a mixture of oleic acid (a fatty acid found in various vegetable oils) and nitrogen-containing compounds called amines. This mixture dissolves readily in diesel fuel and binds water to it without any need for stirring. The water droplets themselves can be as small as a nanometre (a billionth of a metre) across. That they are so small helps stabilise the emulsion.
A very important feature of this invention, worth repeating, is that the emulsion created is stable. The result it is claimed is, in effect, a liquid sponge, and means the mixture can be stored indefinitely, like ordinary diesel, without risk of separation.
When the Oil-Surfactant-H2O emulsion is burned, is the near-complete abolition of soot, and a reduction of up to 80% in nitrogen-oxide emissions. The surfactant itself also burns without creating emissions beyond water, carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
The next stage is to test the mixture in the real world. MTU, a German engine-builder, (Germany's Rolls-Royce) is now looking into the matter.

Will this innovation be adopted and made law on The Seas or is this just more Eau de Cologne to mask the stink?

REFERENCE:

The Economist,  3rd of June 2010 Science & Technology

UN science chief defends IPCC-Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, work, welcomes review

AMSTERDAM – The head of the U.N. scientific body on climate change defended Friday the work of the thousands of scientists who contribute to its reports, even as he welcomed a review of procedures that produced errors undermining the panel's public credibility.

The chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Rajendra Pachauri, cautioned an independent scientific committee reviewing the IPCC's work not to undermine scientists' motivation for contributing to reports on global warming.

Recently its reports have been dismissed (undermined) by climate skeptics who attribute global warming to natural cycles. The skeptics were bolstered by a series of errors in the IPCC's 2007 report.

Pachauri told the committee's first review meeting that the panel's conclusions are valid, even in areas where mistakes were discovered.

Pointing to the most glaring error, a claim that the world's glaciers will melt by 2035, Pachauri said glaciers are indeed melting, though not that fast. Nonetheless, glacial melt accounts for 28 percent of sea level rise, and the panel's assessment on glaciers contains "a lot of facts which we can ignore at our peril."

Pachauri said the panel is comprised of volunteer scientists contributing several years of their own time and who disband after issuing their report. The panel has no mechanism for responding to criticism once the reports are issued, other than the small secretariat.

"We need to develop an ability and a capacity to communicate better with the outside world," he told the 15 top scientists from around the world summoned to sit on the review committee..

He said the panel's procedures already are robust, but he welcomed any suggestion that would improve accuracy.

The review is expected to take several weeks before it issues recommendations on how to tighten the IPCC procedures.

Its up to the individual whom he chooses to believe in these issues.

He can choose between either the largest body of the worlds best and most recognised scientists and experts of all times brought together to study this most important or a relatively small number of specialist sceptics and a large number of lay persons with little or no recognised scientific or engineering training in such vast and complex fields as to the probable outcomes.

I know which group I would choose to place my faith.

en référence à :

"He said the panel's procedures already are robust, but he welcomed any suggestion that would improve accuracy. The review is expected to take several weeks before it issues recommendations on how to tighten the IPCC procedures."
- UN science chief defends work, welcomes review - Yahoo! News (afficher sur Google Sidewiki)

LINK NEW from NAP_ Transitions to Alternative Transportation Technologies--Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles

NEW from NAP-USA's National academy Publications_ Transitions to Alternative Transportation Technologies--Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles , free to read online;

Read more:

Materials Science and Engineering Defined: Crystal Growth Detection System sought -Innocentive Challenge_Solver Teamwork encouraged

Materials Science and Engineering Defined: Crystal Growth Detection System sought -Innocentive Challenge_Solver Teamwork encouraged

New on Innovation_The Economist-Innocentive Co-operation 1st visit the 6x6 page video series Management-Thinkers on Innovation

Great resource addition from The Economist
A short summary
Three examples from the 6x6 =36 videos and lecture summaries
-Scott Berkun: author of The Myths of Innovation_Video presentation and lecture summary
-5 person Panel: The Hybrid Problem Solver, The Design Thinking "Theory of Solving Everything "
Tim Brown's book change by design,

-Jarod Diamond,The Great Challenges of The 21st Century never to be missed never to be overlooked.

Panel: The Ideas Economy 21st Century's Greatest Challenges.
All the Videos

Just some of the books, some from the videos presented all from Amazon-Blogger Tool and this is just a small sample of whats on offer. NB this blog has been running since 2006.

















Enjoy the experience

This-Above-All: New CO2 counter widget for you "Gov" from CO2 now

This-Above-All: New CO2 counter widget for you "Gov" from CO2 now

On track to reduce vehicule emissions - Electric Motorcycle-Bike Racing, Leads - Magny-Cours,Nevers(58) FR in the race Sept 2010. Electric Car GP-F1? -The Economist.

Original Title: TTXGP: Electric Motorcycles Race Isle of Man 2009

I am no motor bike fan, too dangerous for me, but this deserves more than a mention.

2010 FIM e-Power Schedule
April 18 Le Mans (Opening race of the Le Mans 24hours)
TBD Albacete (Opening race of the Albacete 8hours)
September 12 Nevers-Magny Cours (Opening race of the Bol d'Or)
November* 14 Doha (Opening race of the Doha 8 hours)
*To be confirmed

2010 FIM e-Power Schedule.
INNOVATION claim.
"Racing development spurs production innovation. This is an accepted fact, particularly true in motorcycles. So why should electric motorcycles be any different? On June 12th, 2009, emerging electric motorcycles will be put to the racing test when the carbon-free 2009 TTXGP runs on the Isle of Man"
AIM
"The stated purpose of the (TTXGP) is “to bring clean emission transport technologies into the mainstream by demonstrating they can provide exciting, high-speed, high-performance fun.” What better place to put on a high-speed exhibition than on the famed Isle of Man road course?"
OBJECTIVITY - Save the Bike stop the Hype.
Testing the racing application of electric motorcycles in the hallowed TT crucible is perfect. There will be no hiding behind optimistic spec sheet claims, or promised improvements on future production runs (always, it seems, with a nebulous “about two years away” date affixed). Racing is a zero/sum game, there is a winner and there are losers – a clear hierarchical list of them. And come June 12th we will see who stacks up where in the emerging electric motorcycle market."

THE TTXGP RULES are simple:
1. No carbon-based fuels, no toxic emissions.

2. One lap of the 37.75 Isle of Man mountain course with no pit stops or refueling, with any bike incapable of lapping within 50minutes disqualified.

More...
Electric Bike F1-Grand Prix-TTXGP-site.

Sources and Motivation to post: Comments in the Economist following the story 'Devolving Volvo'.

NB. China '2m vehicles by 2015'?

Electric supercars-Highly charged motoring. Fast cars will go even faster with electric power
Mar 18th 2010 | From The Economist print edition
Quote:
"The secret (whisper it, lest puritanical greens find out) is that electric motors are better than combustion engines. They have more oomph, and no need of a gearbox to deliver it. No self-respecting supercar should be without them. And, at this month’s Geneva motor show, at least three supercar-makers showed that they had got the message. Lotus, Porsche and Ferrari each unveiled vehicles driven partly by electric motors."

"These cars have petrol engines, too, to back the electric ones up; technically, therefore, they are hybrids. But that should change in the future as batteries’ storage capacity goes up, and charging time comes down. Most importantly they show that, sometimes, doing the right thing can be fun."
TESLA PERFORMANCE SPEC.
"The launch of the Tesla roadster two years ago demonstrated that electric cars do not have to be slouches. The Californian company’s small plug-in sports car can accelerate from zero to 96kph in 3.7 seconds. It has a range of 393km (244 miles) once its lithium-ion battery pack is fully charged (which, admittedly, takes several hours). The Tesla’s rapid acceleration comes from the ability of an electric motor to deliver its maximum amount of torque at whatever speed the motor is turning."

"Torque is the scientific term for turning force, and it is measured in newton-metres (Nm). The Tesla’s motor has a torque of 400Nm all the way to 5,100 revolutions per minute. An internal-combustion engine, by contrast, produces maximum torque only at certain speeds. The 2.0 litre engine of a Lotus Elise S2, for instance, peaks at 213Nm at 4,400rpm. And, whereas a gearbox is needed to use."
REFERENCE (en référence à ): TTXGP: Electric Motorcycles Race Isle of Man - Isle of Man TT and Street Racing - Motorcycle USA (cf.(afficher sur) Google Sidewiki)

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F1, Formula One Racing's contribution to Innovations_20 ways F1™ is changing our world

What is significant Innovation, What to Innovate, Where to Innovate, How to Innovate_ Back to Basics

Read more: http://conversations-on-innovations.blogspot.com/search?q=David+Mackay#ixzz0jfsx9a9v
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Share Alike

Read more: http://conversations-on-innovations.blogspot.com/search?q=Electric+cars#ixzz0jflzOg6J
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Share Alike

Materials Science and Engineering Defined: Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates ref My review of Nanomaterials by MF Ashby et al

Materials Science and Engineering Defined: Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates ref My review of Nanomaterials by MF Ashby et al

This-Above-All: A task of terawatts- Editorial from Nature looks at Renewable Energy Policy and criticises "The Traditional Fossile Fuel Dependency

This-Above-All: A task of terawatts- Editorial from Nature looks at Renewable Energy Policy and criticises "The Traditional Fossile Fuel Dependency

Reference to full Editorial in Nature and related posts of importance.

Materials Science and Engineering Defined: Materials and Environment- Mothers of Inventions

Materials Science and Engineering Defined: Materials and Environment- Mothers of Inventions

First class Google Book, commented and reviewed

Create the Future_Design Contest 2010 from COMSOL Start date 01 March 2010.

This appears to be an interesting, helpful and rewarding approach to innovation from one of the leaders in commercial multiphysics modelling.

Comsol also provides a rich selection of freely available resource items, Conference reports on CD, white papers etc. which reminds me, I must pick-up the lastest. CD.

Should readers require a network partner, please check my blog posts for senior experience and multidisciplinary areas of competence.
eg
1.
Conversations-on-Innovations.
2.
Materials Science and Engineering Defined


I am a member of Linkedin, and ReseachGate networks
If in doubt drop me a line via one or other (or all) of the above sites.

en référence à : Create the Future Design Contest ::Create the Future (afficher sur Google Sidewiki)

Up-dated my SPY registration on MaterialsKTN Knowledge Transfer Network with Nano Feed link_cf also some of my French Links

Just a quick news up-date the UK's attractive Materials Innovation site MaterialsKTN Knowledge Transfer Network with Feed from NanoKTN.

For good measure balance (no feed available at present):

A French Network (in English)
France's C'Nano and
Company network Rhone Alpes .

Other links on the site via LINKS, SEARCH button:
-Institutional nano sites
-Competence centers
-European laboratories
-Nanoscience journals

This-Above-All: Financial Innovation_The Economist Debate. Stiglitz sways the field advocating a more cautious regulatory approach. CASE for MASS TORTS?

This-Above-All: Financial Innovation_The Economist Debate. Stiglitz sways the field advocating a more cautious regulatory approach. CASE for MASS TORTS?

Smart material-Super strong gecko insired adhesive gets unstuck is reusable and facilitates recycling components

This invention - innovation appears to have fairly wide spread application potential. As such may well suggest opportunities for the enterprising.

General Motors researchers, led by Tao Xie, a polymer scientist at the GM Research and Development Center in Warren, MI., have made an extremely strong adhesive that comes apart when heated. The adhesive is 10 times stickier than Velcro and the reusable gecko-inspired glues that many research groups have been trying to perfect.


The polymers in the glue bond to each other within minutes when they are initially heated. Thus, when two pieces of the adhesive materials are heated, they stick together strongly, but they come apart easily when heated again.

It is in the class of new materials known as Shape memory materials-here a polymer.

Current Performance:
The researchers were able to attach and pull apart the polymers twice before losing one-third of the adhesive strength (that's still 6.6 times stronger than other adhesives? ) So how many cycles are possible?

Recycling components:

Mark Geoghegan, who studies reversible adhesives at the University of Sheffield in the U.K., says that strong, switchable adhesives could make it easier to recycle computers and electronics, if these adhesives were used to glue them together. "Taking complicated structures apart for reuse at the end of life of the original device is not trivial if their original production involved welding," he says.

The glue could find use in any application requiring a strong but alterable bond, such as furniture, toys, and buildings. Geoghegan envisions offices or hotel rooms that could be tailored to accommodate a handicapped person. Or, he suggests, "Imagine a U2 tour, where sets are assembled and disassembled on a daily basis. It might be easier to use a high-strength reversible adhesive than to use bolts."

Some questions for applications and recycling: Reliabilty? Ratio of the amount of glue per component (esp for very small and expensive ones as in electronics). Glue removal when nessessary -by heating or chemical or mechanical abrasion?) Saftey standards for toys...?

This Smart Mat sounds well worth following-up.

Fuller details on MIT's Technology Review Newsletter

REF: en référence à : Technology Review: Super Velcro (on afficher sur) Google Sidewiki)

IdeaConnection encourages team approach to problem solving

Just a quick addition to paid Innovation contests. IdeaConnection IdeaConnection encourages team approach to problem solving. Since I registered with IdeaConnection, the site has gained in momentum. Enormous progress ahas been made. I am please to have added the site as good team network source for problem solving, finding collaborators,becoming a team leader. As a company seeking to tap problem solving resourses world wide why not post you problem on the contest list. It is an excellent compliment to my first affiliation: Innocentive.


LINK to IdeaConnection RSS Feed (NB. permalink above centered)

InnoCentive > Challenges

Let me introduce you to the following feed (RSS). All the challenges, multiple disciples are repoprted regularily.

InnoCentive: All the Challenges

I am sure you will find particularly motivating current problems to solve with much back-ground information on real-life science based theoretical, technological and engineering problems to solve, many of which are cryingly urgent for many of the worlds populations. InnoCentive's offers, virtual office,real personal online assistance are also an excellent way of broadening young one's knowledge from any single academic disciplines to wider issues such, technology transfer and patent rights, licencing...

Delays are short so check the link regularly, bookmark them and do not hesitate to contact me for any further assistance, co-operation, caring and sharing.

I have also included a rapid and permanently placed access link in my site-blog listings centred under the header blocks

Reference to: list of challenge categories, and RSS feeds per category

Materials Science and Engineering Defined: InnoCentive > Challenges > Physical Sciences_Outlets for untapped skills, supplimentary work and recogition and revenue

Materials Science and Engineering Defined: InnoCentive Challenges: Physical Sciences_Outlets for untapped skills, supplimentary work and recogition and revenue

Materials Science and Engineering Defined: Science and Engineering Indicators 2010 released by US National Science Board (NSB), Jan15.

Materials Science and Engineering Defined: Science and Engineering Indicators 2010 released by US National Science Board (NSB), Jan15.

Apologies to IE users

I have now rectified an IE browser problem on all my blogs. Unknown to me one of my widgets made my blogs inaccessible with this very popular browser. The incriminated widget has now been replaced by a similar approach "Blidget" from Widgetbox. I trust that readers will no longer encounter hindrance. I naturally hope that such incidents will no longer result in loss of followers and any click through revenue from what I believe to be relevant and informative adverts brought to readers by AdSense. Amazingly the widget problem did not result in loss of access using the FireFox browser. I now believe my posts will be accessible via both these mayors and all browsers of my readers choice. If readers and followers experience further hindrance please do not hesitate to drop me a note, if possible.