New shape-changing polymer developed December 6, 2024 Ohio State University A team of scientists has created a new shape-changing polymer that could transform how future soft materials are constructed. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email A team of scientists has created a new shape-changing polymer that could transform how future soft materials are constructed. Made using a material called a liquid crystalline elastomer (LCE), a soft rubber-like material that can be stimulated by external forces like light or heat, the polymer is so versatile that it can move in several directions. Its behavior, which resembles the movements of animals in nature, includes being able to twist, tilt left and right, shrink and expand, said Xiaoguang Wang, co-author of the study and an assistant professor in chemical and biomolecular engineering at The Ohio State University. "Liquid crystals are materials that have very unique characteristics and properties that other materials cannot normally achieve," said Wang. "They're fascinating to work with." This new polymer's ability to change shapes could make it useful for creating soft robots or artificial muscles, among other high-tech devices in medicine and other fields. Today, liquid crystals are most often used in TVs and cell phone displays, but these materials often degrade over time. But with the expansion of LEDs, many researchers are focused on developing new applications for liquid crystals. Unlike conventional materials that can only bend in one direction or require multiple components to create intricate shapes, this team's polymer is a single component that can twist in two directions. This property is tied to how the material is exposed to temperature changes to control the molecular phases of the polymer, said Wang. "Liquid crystals have orientational order, meaning they can self-align," he said. "When we heat the LCE, they transition into different phases causing a shift in their structure and properties." This means that molecules, tiny building blocks of matter, that were once fixed in place can be directed to rearrange in ways that allow for greater flexibility. This aspect may also make the material easier to manufacture, said Wang. The study was recently published in the journal Science . If scaled up, the polymer in this study could potentially advance several scientific fields and technologies, including controlled drug delivery systems, biosensor devices and as an aid in complex locomotion maneuvers for next-generation soft robots. One of the study's most important findings reveals the three phases that the material goes through as its temperature changes, said Alan Weible, co-author of the study and a graduate fellow in chemical and biomolecular engineering at Ohio State. Throughout these phases, molecules shift and self-assemble into different configurations. "These phases are one of the key factors we optimized to allow the material ambidirectional shape deformability," he said. In terms of size, the study further suggests that the material can be scaled up or down to adapt to nearly any need. "Our paper opens a new direction for people to start synthesizing other multiphase materials," said Wang. Researchers note that with future computational advances, their polymer could eventually be a useful tool for dealing with delicate situations, like those that require the precise design of artificial muscles and joints or upgrading soft nanorobots needed for complex surgeries. "In the next few years, we plan to develop new applications and hopefully break into the biomedical field," said Weible. "There's a lot more we can explore based on these results." This work was supported by the Department of Energy and the Harvard University Materials Research Science and Engineering Center. Other co-authors include Yuxing Yao, Shucong Li, Atalaya Milan Wilborn, Friedrich Stricker, Joanna Aizenberg, Baptiste Lemaire, Robert K. A. Bennett, Tung Chun Cheung and Alison Grinthal from Harvard University; Foteini Trigka and Michael M. Lerch from the University of Groningen; Guillaume Freychet, Mikhail Zhernenkov and Patryk Wasik from Brookhaven National Laboratory; and Boris Kozinsky from Bosch Research. Story Source: Materials provided by Ohio State University . Original written by Tatyana Woodall. Note: Content may be edited for style and length. Journal Reference : Cite This Page :
The Centre of Excellence for Millets and Incubation Centre was launched at the CSIR-CFTRI here. Minister for Agriculture N. Cheluvarayaswamy inaugurated the facility on the CFTRI campus on Friday. The facility has come up with the support from the State government. CSIR-CFTRI director Sridevi Annapurna Singh, Ramesh Bandisidde Gowda, K. Harish Gowda, MLAs, former council chairman V.R. Sudarshan, Commissioner for Agriculture Y.S. Patil, and scientists from the institute were present. After the launch, the Minister went around the facility and got the details from the scientists on the millet-based products and the technologies developed by the institute over the years that can be transferred for commercial production. The scientists explained the initiatives taken up for promoting millets, especially after the year 2023 was declared as the International Year of Millets. Established at a cost of ₹20 crore with funding from the Karnataka government, the CFTRI, which has been working on millets since past 17 years, developing over 60 technologies till date, aims to reach out or transfer its technologies to farmers, entrepreneurs, women SHGs and others to market the products, focussing on the longer shelf life of the products without compromising on the taste and nutritional value. With India being the one the world’s largest producers of millets, contributing 19 percent of the global production, the institute aims to help reach out the millet products to the global markets, addressing the issues concerning the shelf life. Three units have come up at the centre under the initiative with the combined production capacity ranging from 500 kilos to one tonne. More than 50 farmers had accompanied the Minister as the CFTRI aims to train farmers and others in millet processing, and make them entrepreneurs. The CFTRI last year developed 12 new technologies. The new technologies include ragi-based malt hydrolysate, malted ragi-based ready-to-eat weaning food, a process for the production of multigrain waffles, and multigrain pizza base. The focus of the technologies was on millets since 2023 was the International Year of Millets. Other technologies are finger-millet semolina, instant finger-millet ragi rava idli mix, instant finger-millet halwa mix, instant finger-millet upma mix, millet and multi millet puttu podi mix, cleaner process for biotechnological production of spirulina, and ready-to-use multigrain idli and dosa batter in retail packs The ready-to-eat malted ragi-based weaning food that was also developed is suitable for children of the age group of six months to three. Notably, fruits like apples, mangoes, oranges, and vegetables like carrots or tomatoes can be incorporated in the food, the scientists said. Published - December 07, 2024 08:32 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp RedditGary O’Neil accepts criticism from Wolves fans after heavy defeat at Everton
There’s a boom coming. Bitcoin has arrived, and its price is setting records. Artificial Intelligence is hot. And the American people just elected a president with a deregulatory mindset. All the ingredients are there. If everything is handled right, America will soon embark on a period of extended wealth creation rarely seen in modern history. For that to occur, a few things must happen, starting with the government staying largely out of the way. That’s hard to do since people rely on government to keep the currency and other mediums of exchange stable. It’s also supposed to root out and protect against fraudsters who take advantage of the hype surrounding any innovative technology to prey on unsuspecting, naïve investors looking to, as the saying goes, “get rich quick.” None of that has to be tossed overboard in pursuit of the newest “new economy.” As we move forward with the integration of crypto technology into the global financial system and overlay AI onto the manufacturing sector, Caveat Emptor — let the buyer beware — is still a sound strategy for everyone. The better the industry educates the American public about what digital tokens are, how to tell the good from the bad, and how they can be used to transform commerce, the more quickly it will be adopted widely. The same goes for AI, which, up to now, is still talked about as though it were part of a science-fiction future where computers dominate humankind. What people don’t know or are choosing to ignore is that AI is already being used — to significant effect — in health care, energy and manufacturing, leading to lower costs, increased efficiency and driving breakthroughs that benefit us all. The Mayo Clinic says that AI is already improving the quality of preventive screenings, diagnoses and treatments, particularly for cancer patients who are experiencing improved outcomes. The power behind Bitcoin is also making health care better, at least IBM thinks it is. The company has used blockchain, the technology that makes cryptocurrency viable as a transferable store of value, to make health data systems for the Centers for Disease Control better and safer. Accenture and Shell have partnered to use crypto technology to develop an airline booking system for American Express where business travelers can choose to reduce their carbon footprint by quickly matching them with flights that use cleaner fuel. There are groups out there, like the National Cryptocurrency Association, that are working to share information and best practices and educate consumers about the benefits of broader adoption of blockchain. They’re also working to combat misinformation and address the general lack of understanding at the end-user level regarding crypto. Blockchain seems to have a leg up on AI in this regard, but that’s perhaps because it’s been around longer. Nevertheless, the rules of the road are still being written. Gary Gensler, the crypto skeptic who served as chairman of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission under President Joe Biden, announced recently he’d be stepping down at the end of the current administration. Trump can now replace him with someone friendly to crypto who can promulgate a set of rules that will allow America to close the gap its regulatory inaction has created with nations like China, which are much farther down the road on digital finance. There is growing recognition that a similar effort needs to be made with AI so that the public better understands how it works. The American Association of Retired Persons is one group that recently launched a major initiative, but more needs to be done. Groups like it and the NCA can and should take the lead in educating the public about these technologies, how they work, and why they are worth paying attention to. Modern technologies are for everyone, not a select few. Increasing awareness and education will help us better leverage these technologies from both a practical and policy perspective and will open the door for safe and beneficial mass adoption. We need to bring the public along instead of frightening them.How DNA technology solved a 48-year-old Oklahoma murder case
MELBOURNE, Australia , Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- After just nine months in the market, Firmable is rapidly gaining traction as Australia's leading B2B sales and marketing database. This early success signals a shift in how Australian businesses are approaching sales growth, prioritising accurate, localised data to drive results. Firmable has already onboarded over 1,500 users from more than 500 companies through the platform, capitalising on its unique value proposition: a deeply localised dataset that provides unmatched accuracy and breadth. Australian businesses are increasingly switching from global competitors to Firmable, drawn by its ability to deliver reliable data and local support. According to Matt Perrott , CEO and co-founder of BuildPass: "Compared to ZoomInfo, Firmable has much wider coverage, accuracy, and depth of local data for only a fraction of the price." G2 , the largest and most trusted business software comparison site, recently recognised Firmable's position as a market leader by awarding High Performer Badges in the Sales Intelligence and Lead Management categories on customer satisfaction in the Australian market. Firmable was also named Easiest to Do Business With based on exceptional customer ratings. These accolades reflect Firmable's commitment to delivering unparalleled value and service to its customers. Leigh Jasper , co-CEO and co-founder of Firmable, remarked: "Firmable was founded to tackle one of the biggest challenges we observed in the Australian market – access to reliable and accurate B2B data. Australian businesses deserve a local solution that truly understands their needs, and Firmable is delivering exactly that." "We created Firmable to solve a problem we experienced firsthand: the lack of accurate and reliable B2B data for Australian businesses," said Tara Salmon , Chief Revenue Officer of Firmable. "The impact is clear – our outbound sales team has achieved exceptional results, using Firmable as their own data tool, generating $160K in monthly pipeline per SDR, despite an ACV of < $10,000 . This efficiency highlights how the right data and tools enable more effective B2B sales." Looking ahead to 2025, Firmable plans to continue scaling its operations while introducing innovative AI-driven tools, including predictive signals and AI agents. These enhancements will empower users to target leads more effectively and improve their sales efficiency, further cementing Firmable's position as a market leader. "Our lean approach and internal use of AI have enabled us to focus on growth without overextending," added Salmon. "By equipping our Go-To-Market team with the tools and data they need, we've created a streamlined process that's delivering results at scale." With plans to deepen its database and expand its product offerings, Firmable is positioned for accelerated growth in 2025. The company's focus on delivering value through local expertise and innovative technology has resonated with Australian businesses, making Firmable the go-to choice for B2B data. About Firmable Firmable is Australia's definitive B2B database platform, helping businesses drive smarter decisions and outperform by knowing more about their leads, customers, and candidates than ever before. The platform provides access to the largest database of Australian companies in one place with a rich set of attributes, allowing sales and marketing teams to accelerate growth, better engage with their customers, and save time by leveraging reliable market intelligence. SOURCE Firmable Pty Ltd.
Pep Guardiola claims three-quarters of the Premier League want to see Manchester City relegated over financial irregularities. But the City boss has vowed to stay on and lift the club back to the top even if they are sent all the way down to the National League. Guardiola ended speculation over his immediate future this week by extending his contract, which had been due to expire at the end of the season, through to the summer of 2027. That has given the club some stability at a time of great uncertainty as they fight 115 charges related to alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations. City have denied all wrongdoing but their punishment if found guilty could be severe, with demotion even a possibility. Guardiola has strongly defended the club in the past and is happy to continue doing so. The Spaniard said: “I don’t enjoy it, I prefer not to be in that position, but once it’s there I love it because, when you believe in your club, and the people there – I believe what they say to me and the reasons why. “I cannot say yet because we’re awaiting the sentence in February or March – I don’t know when – but at the same time, I like it. “I read something about the situation and how you need to be relegated immediately. Seventy-five per cent of the clubs want it, because I know what they do behind the scenes and this sort of stuff. “I said when all the clubs accused us of doing something wrong, (and people asked) what happens if we are relegated, (I said) I will be here. “Next year, I don’t know the position of the Conference they are going to (put) us, (but) we are going to come up and come up and come back to the Premier League. I knew it then and I feel it now.” The immediate priority for Guardiola, who said his contract negotiations were completed in “just two hours”, is to arrest a run of four successive defeats in all competitions. Yet, ahead of their return to action against Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, the champions continue to grapple with a lengthy injury list. Mateo Kovacic is their latest casualty after sustaining a knock on international duty that could keep him out for up to a month. On the positive side, defenders Nathan Ake, John Stones and Manuel Akanji could feature and Jack Grealish is also closing in on a return after a month out. Much to Guardiola’s frustration, Grealish was called up by England for their recent Nations League games, although he later withdrew. Guardiola said: “I want the best for Jack and I want the best for Jack with the national team but the doctor said to me that he was not ready to play. “I know (England) want him but they have 200 players to select from and Jack was not fit. He had to recover from many things.” Kyle Walker played for England against both Greece and the Republic of Ireland despite limited game time since suffering injury in the October international break. Guardiola said: “If he is fit I like him to play in the national team. It is not a problem, don’t misunderstand me. “Kyle has a dream to make 100 caps for the national team. Do I want to cancel this dream? Absolutely not. “But if you are not fit, if you cannot play here, you cannot play for the national team. It is quite obvious.”
The suspect in the high-profile killing of a health insurance CEO that has gripped the United States graduated from an Ivy League university, reportedly hails from a wealthy family, and wrote social media posts brimming with cerebral musings. Luigi Mangione, 26, was thrust into the spotlight Monday after police revealed he is their person of interest in the brutal murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, a father of two, last week in broad daylight in Manhattan in a case that laid bare deep frustration and anger with America's privatized medical system. News of his capture in Pennsylvania -- following a tip from a McDonald's worker --triggered an explosion of online activity, with Mangione quickly amassing new followers on social media as citizen sleuths and US media tried to understand who he is. While some lauded him as a hero and lamented his arrest, others analyzed his intellectual takes in search of ideological clues. A photo on one of his social media accounts includes an X-ray of an apparently injured spine. No explicit political affiliation has emerged. Meanwhile, memes and jokes proliferated, many riffing on his first name and comparing him to the "Mario Bros." character Luigi, sometimes depicted in AI-altered images wielding a gun or holding a Big Mac. "Godspeed. Please know that we all hear you," wrote one user on Facebook. "I want to donate to your defense fund," added another. According to Mangione's LinkedIn profile, he is employed as a data engineer at TrueCar, a California-based online auto marketplace. A company spokesperson told AFP Mangione "has not been an employee of our company since 2023." Although he had been living in Hawaii ahead of the killing, he originally hails from Towson, Maryland, near Baltimore. He comes from a prominent and wealthy Italian-American family, according to the Baltimore Banner. The family owns local businesses, including the Hayfields Country Club, its website says. A standout student, Mangione graduated at the top of his high school class in 2016. In an interview with his local paper at the time, he praised his teachers for fostering a passion for learning beyond grades and encouraging intellectual curiosity. A former student who knew Mangione at the Gilman School told AFP the suspect struck him as "a normal guy, nice kid." "There was nothing about him that was off, at least from my perception," this person said, asking that their name not be used. "Seemed to just be smiling, and kind of seemed like he was a smart kid. Ended up being valedictorian, which confirmed that," the former student said. Mangione went on to attend the prestigious University of Pennsylvania, where he completed both a bachelor's and master's degree in computer science by 2020, according to a university spokesperson. While at Penn, Mangione co-led a group of 60 undergraduates who collaborated on video game projects, as noted in a now-deleted university webpage, archived on the Wayback Machine. On Instagram, where his following has skyrocketed from hundreds to tens of thousands, Mangione shared snapshots of his travels in Mexico, Puerto Rico and Hawaii. He also posted shirtless photos flaunting a six-pack and appeared in celebratory posts with fellow members of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. However, it is on X (formerly Twitter) that users have scoured Mangione's posts for potential motives. His header photo -- an X-ray of a spine with bolts -- remains cryptic, with no public explanation. Finding a coherent political ideology has also proved elusive, though he had written a review of Ted Kaczynski's manifesto on the online site goodreads, calling it "prescient." Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, carried out a string of bombings in the United States from 1978 to 1995, a campaign he said was aimed at halting the advance of modern society and technology. Mangione called Kaczynski "rightfully imprisoned," while also saying "'violence never solved anything' is a statement uttered by cowards and predators." According to CNN, handwritten documents recovered when Mangione was arrested included the phrase "these parasites had it coming." Mangione has also linked approvingly to posts criticizing secularism as a harmful consequence of Christianity's decline. In April, he wrote, "Horror vacui (nature abhors a vacuum)." The following month, he posted an essay he wrote in high school titled "How Christianity Prospered by Appealing to the Lower Classes of Ancient Rome." In another post from April, he speculated that Japan's low birthrate stems from societal disconnection, adding that "fleshlights" and other vaginal-replica sex toys should be banned. ia/nro/dw
A suspect is on the loose in what police called the "brazen" targeted attack of Brian Thompson, the CEO of major insurance group UnitedHealthcare who was fatally shot outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel ahead of an investor conference on Wednesday. The masked gunman appeared to be lying in wait outside the Hilton hotel in what police said was a "premeditated" attack. The shooter arrived at the scene about five minutes before Thompson before shooting the victim in the chest around 6:40 a.m., police said. MORE: UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson shot dead in Midtown Manhattan, masked gunman at large Video captured the moment the gunman walked up behind the CEO, pointed his gun at him and fired. A witness fled as Thompson stumbled and fell to the ground. The gunman then walked closer to Thompson, firing more times before fleeing. Evidence recovered includes cellphone, water bottle, candy wrapper The suspect fled on foot into an alley, where a phone was recovered, according to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny. He then fled on an e-bike and he was last seen riding into Central Park at 6:48 a.m., police said. The bikes are equipped with GPS and police are following up, Kenny said. Police released photos of the suspect holding a firearm and on a bike. They also released photos of the suspect in a mask in an undisclosed location. He was described by police as wearing a light brown or cream-colored jacket, a black face mask, black and white sneakers and a "very distinctive" gray backpack. Detectives have retrieved a water bottle and candy wrapper from the area where he was apparently waiting and are currently running tests and analyses to determine if there are any usable fingerprints or DNA, law enforcement sources said. At the same time, NYPD detectives are working with the U.S. Marshals Service to try and track down the shooter and with the FBI, which has the most sophisticated technology for retrieving usable data from cell phones, sources said. The victim's hotel room has already been accessed by investigators, whose top priority is determining Thompson's most recent conversations and movements, sources said. Professional killer appears unlikely The working theory among detectives right now is that the shooting was carried out by someone who is not a professional killer because too many "mistakes" were made, sources said. Hitmen typically don't carry cell phones to their hits and the shots were fired from a distance that would be considered "too far" away from the victim, the sources said. At this point, detectives are trying to determine whether Thompson was targeted because of some type of personal conflict or as a result of his work as an insurance executive, sources said. The killer apparently had some knowledge of Thompson's schedule on Wednesday and the fact that he would be arriving at the Hilton well before the company meeting was to begin, the sources said. Police are interviewing Thompson's colleagues and family about any potential specific threats, Kenny said. MORE: Boy, 7, fatally shoots 2-year-old brother after finding gun in glove box What we know about the victim Thompson, 50, was in New York City for the UnitedHealthcare investors conference, which was scheduled to start at 8 a.m. The conference was being held at the Hilton outside of which he was shot, but he was not staying there, police said. UnitedHealthcare's parent company, UnitedHealth Group, the largest health insurer in the world, said in a statement, "We are deeply saddened and shocked at the passing of our dear friend and colleague Brian Thompson." "Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him," the company said. "We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time. Our hearts go out to Brian's family and all who were close to him." Police urge the public to call Crime Stoppers with any information. A $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible.Edtech Market to grow by USD 162.7 Billion (2024-2028), driven by learners shift to eBooks, with AI shaping market trends - Technavio