It's really beautiful outside. Like so beautiful if San Francisco is like this more often it will become really expensive to live here. Also, Quora is raising money according to the multiple people in the past week who have told me that Quora is raising money. From what I've heard, the startup wants to raise between $30 to $50 million in its Series B, at a $400 million valuation -- an amount which strangely enough seems modest in light of the billion dollar rounds being thrown about willy nilly.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Quora Is Raising At A $400M Valuation, With D?Angelo Putting In His Own Money
It's really beautiful outside. Like so beautiful if San Francisco is like this more often it will become really expensive to live here. Also, Quora is raising money according to the multiple people in the past week who have told me that Quora is raising money. From what I've heard, the startup wants to raise between $30 to $50 million in its Series B, at a $400 million valuation -- an amount which strangely enough seems modest in light of the billion dollar rounds being thrown about willy nilly.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Intuit GoPayment goes live in Canada, more rectangular than Square
Looks like Canada just scored another mobile credit card payment system within its borders. It was back at CES when Intuit revealed its updated GoPayment dongle for our neighbors up north, and now the company's announced that the service has officially launched in the region. Once you're application is approved, you'll get the card reader for free without any contract -- and best of all, GoPayment works on a "pay-as-you-go" basis (3.3 percent if you enter the digits, 2.7 percent with a swipe). It's currently purposed for iDevices with a free downloadable app, accepting Visa and Mastercards, but Intuit notes that Android and BlackBerry compatibility is in the works. With services NetSecure and PayPal also claiming space in the country, we're still left to wonder when Square -- essentially the godfather of this type of thing -- will finally be joining the card-swiping party in the great white north. If you're curious for all the details or wanting to apply for yourself, head on down to the source link below.
[Thanks, Mike]
Intuit GoPayment goes live in Canada, more rectangular than Square originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Trash Talkin? Tuesday
Trashy Celebrity Hookups [The Frisky] Channing Tatum Goes Shirtless in ‘Magic Mike’ [HollyWire] Kelsey Grammer Gets a Lame Tattoo [Right Celebrity] Pulitzer Prize Winners Announced [...]
Trash Talkin’ Tuesday Stupid Celebrities Gossip Stupid Celebrities Gossip News
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Thursday, April 12, 2012
In search of more polymers for medical purposes
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Public release date: 11-Apr-2012[ | E-mail |
Share ] Contact: Amaia Portugal
a.portugal@elhuyar.com
34-943-363-040
Elhuyar Fundazioa
PVA is a material used to produce the capsules that deliver drugs, for example - Ainhoa Lejardi has obtained new compounds based on that
Ainhoa Lejardi, a materials engineer at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), has taken a step forward in the development of new polymer materials. Biomaterials are being increasingly used in medicine and need to have a great variety of properties so that they can be used in all types of therapeutic applications. A task into which this researcher has put much effort, because she has opened up a door to the possibility of creating new materials from the PVA polymer and modifying its properties in order to come up with more applications for biomedicine. Her thesis is entitled Polimero biodegradakor berrien lorpena eta ezaugarritzea (Obtaining and characterising of new biodegradable polymers). She has also had articles published on this in the Polymer and Macromolecules journals, among others.
PVA or poly(vinyl alcohol) is a biocompatible, biodegradable, water soluble material, and therefore highly suited to use in biomedicine. For example, it is used in the type of gels that dry the moment they touch the skin, as well as in transdermal patches (the ones that are stuck to the skin and release a specific drug that passes through it in a controlled way). Hydrogels made from PVA are fairly commonplace, precisely because of their solubility in water. Lejardi has listed the most common applications: "For encapsulation systems that deliver drugs, for reconstructive surgery, and to make dressings to treat wounds." There are different ways of producing polymer materials, but in this case, the researcher has opted for the chemical modification of the PVA and its subsequent blending with other polymers. But always with biodegradable polymers, like polylactides and polycaprolactones. So she was setting out to incorporate new properties into the original material.
Esterification
On a molecular level, PVAs do not readily interact with other polymers; that is why when they are kept in their original state, most of the blends are heterogeneous and therefore display very poor mechanical properties. Lejardi has endeavoured to bring PVA closer to these other polymers: "PVA has hydroxyl groups in its main chain. The problem is that these hydroxyls associate only with each other. So we inserted hydroxy acids so as to move the hydroxyls away from the main chain." This phenomenon is called esterification: the whole chemical reaction of an alcohol (the hydroxyl) with an acid (the hydroxy acid). That way, hydrogen bonds are created between the PVA and the biodegradable polymers one is intending to blend with it.
Lejardi conducted tests on various biocompatible polymers; after modifying the PVA by means of esterification, she prepared and analysed a wide range of systems for blending polymers. For example, when blending PVA with PCL or poly(epsilon-caprolactone), she obtained an improvement in biocompatibility. And with the PVP or poly(vinyl-pyrrolidone), the results were also good, as the researcher explains: "We knew PVP could be blended with PVA, but we saw that when the blend was carried out with our esterificates, the hydrogen bonds turned out to be more robust."
Having completed her thesis, Lejardi is now preparing to spend four months at the Institute of Polymer Science and Technology in Madrid (ICTP-CSIC) to continue with her research in collaboration with Carmen Mijangos, Professor and PhD holder, who works at the centre. She is planning to explore one of the esterifications she has carried out, as she has seen that it is possible to obtain hydrogel with this particular polymer: "We will be studying the material's self-organisational properties. To do this, we have created nanospheres by means of nanoprecipitation1".
###
About the author
Ainhoa Lejardi-Meavebasterretxea (Markina-Xemein, Basque Country, 1981) is a materials engineer. She wrote up her thesis under the supervision of Jos Ramn Sarasua-Oiz and Emilio Meaurio-Arrate, tenured lecturers and PhD holders in the Department of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science of the Faculty of Engineering of Bilbao. She did her thesis mainly in the Biomaterials and Thermoplastic Materials research group and in the faculty's laboratories. She also spent three months at the Department of Nanobiotechnology of the University BOKU Vienna and collaborated with the CIC biomaGUNE research centre. Today Lejardi works as a temporary lecturer on an employment contract at the Faculty of Engineering in Bilbao.
(1) To precipitate: to produce solid matter that is deposited at the bottom of a vessel containing a solution.
[ | E-mail | Share ] ?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Public release date: 11-Apr-2012[ | E-mail |
Share ] Contact: Amaia Portugal
a.portugal@elhuyar.com
34-943-363-040
Elhuyar Fundazioa
PVA is a material used to produce the capsules that deliver drugs, for example - Ainhoa Lejardi has obtained new compounds based on that
Ainhoa Lejardi, a materials engineer at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), has taken a step forward in the development of new polymer materials. Biomaterials are being increasingly used in medicine and need to have a great variety of properties so that they can be used in all types of therapeutic applications. A task into which this researcher has put much effort, because she has opened up a door to the possibility of creating new materials from the PVA polymer and modifying its properties in order to come up with more applications for biomedicine. Her thesis is entitled Polimero biodegradakor berrien lorpena eta ezaugarritzea (Obtaining and characterising of new biodegradable polymers). She has also had articles published on this in the Polymer and Macromolecules journals, among others.
PVA or poly(vinyl alcohol) is a biocompatible, biodegradable, water soluble material, and therefore highly suited to use in biomedicine. For example, it is used in the type of gels that dry the moment they touch the skin, as well as in transdermal patches (the ones that are stuck to the skin and release a specific drug that passes through it in a controlled way). Hydrogels made from PVA are fairly commonplace, precisely because of their solubility in water. Lejardi has listed the most common applications: "For encapsulation systems that deliver drugs, for reconstructive surgery, and to make dressings to treat wounds." There are different ways of producing polymer materials, but in this case, the researcher has opted for the chemical modification of the PVA and its subsequent blending with other polymers. But always with biodegradable polymers, like polylactides and polycaprolactones. So she was setting out to incorporate new properties into the original material.
Esterification
On a molecular level, PVAs do not readily interact with other polymers; that is why when they are kept in their original state, most of the blends are heterogeneous and therefore display very poor mechanical properties. Lejardi has endeavoured to bring PVA closer to these other polymers: "PVA has hydroxyl groups in its main chain. The problem is that these hydroxyls associate only with each other. So we inserted hydroxy acids so as to move the hydroxyls away from the main chain." This phenomenon is called esterification: the whole chemical reaction of an alcohol (the hydroxyl) with an acid (the hydroxy acid). That way, hydrogen bonds are created between the PVA and the biodegradable polymers one is intending to blend with it.
Lejardi conducted tests on various biocompatible polymers; after modifying the PVA by means of esterification, she prepared and analysed a wide range of systems for blending polymers. For example, when blending PVA with PCL or poly(epsilon-caprolactone), she obtained an improvement in biocompatibility. And with the PVP or poly(vinyl-pyrrolidone), the results were also good, as the researcher explains: "We knew PVP could be blended with PVA, but we saw that when the blend was carried out with our esterificates, the hydrogen bonds turned out to be more robust."
Having completed her thesis, Lejardi is now preparing to spend four months at the Institute of Polymer Science and Technology in Madrid (ICTP-CSIC) to continue with her research in collaboration with Carmen Mijangos, Professor and PhD holder, who works at the centre. She is planning to explore one of the esterifications she has carried out, as she has seen that it is possible to obtain hydrogel with this particular polymer: "We will be studying the material's self-organisational properties. To do this, we have created nanospheres by means of nanoprecipitation1".
###
About the author
Ainhoa Lejardi-Meavebasterretxea (Markina-Xemein, Basque Country, 1981) is a materials engineer. She wrote up her thesis under the supervision of Jos Ramn Sarasua-Oiz and Emilio Meaurio-Arrate, tenured lecturers and PhD holders in the Department of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science of the Faculty of Engineering of Bilbao. She did her thesis mainly in the Biomaterials and Thermoplastic Materials research group and in the faculty's laboratories. She also spent three months at the Department of Nanobiotechnology of the University BOKU Vienna and collaborated with the CIC biomaGUNE research centre. Today Lejardi works as a temporary lecturer on an employment contract at the Faculty of Engineering in Bilbao.
(1) To precipitate: to produce solid matter that is deposited at the bottom of a vessel containing a solution.
[ | E-mail | Share ] ?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
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Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Power firms to inform clients of best tariffs
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Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Just What Is The Reason For Environmentally Friendly Energy?
In this particular overall economy, every house operator may benefit from becoming frugal, and using eco-friendly power is a wonderful way to accomplish this. Read on for a few great tips on how you can transform the regular modern technology in your house to greener vitality, enjoy greater savings with your out-of-wallet expenses, and minimize your influence on environmental surroundings.
Use the all natural sunlight for excellent natural vitality savings. Install solar tubes at home which take the light from out-of-doors and bring it indoors so that you do not need to use lights as well as other lighting effects places as frequently. These are typically relatively affordable and are ideal for improving the value of your house.
Swap your furnace with one that has got the Power Star seal on it. It will save you 15 to 20 percent on your own calendar month energy costs if you buy a highly efficient furnace. You may also get yourself a federal taxes credit rating that can help include the cost of your brand-new furnace!
Consider using reduced rinse cycles whenever you are washing foods having a dishwasher. In case you pre-rinse your dishes before, which is generally encouraged, you are able to minimize the amount of time your dish washer operates, saving plenty of energy with time. Not just can it conserve power, however it will decrease your power bill as well.
Incorporate solar power light tubes to your residence. It is a three part method that can give darkish rooms usage of all-natural sunshine. This could make your areas more attractive, and save a little money over the need to constantly use electric power to light the space. These are listed minimally and relatively easy to setup.
Now you should be nicely prepared to set up in regards to the project of turning your property in to a eco-friendly power machine! Try out a number of the tips featured in this article these days, to start out spending less and sensing better about on your own and the way you happen to be preserving the assets from the earth,as well as, always keeping it cleaner!
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Monday, April 9, 2012
game reviews wii . How To Write An Effective Video Game Review
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Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Partner aggression in high-risk families affects parenting beginning at birth
ScienceDaily (Apr. 2, 2012) ? Bickering spouses may need to clean up their act. New research at the University of Oregon finds that the level of aggression between partners around the time when a child is born impacts how a mom will be parenting three years later.
The study -- published in the Journal of Family Psychology -- is part of a longitudinal research effort involving more than 400 mothers in high-risk family environments, based mostly on risk for child-welfare involvement and socioeconomic status, who were initially recruited at a San Diego, Calif., hospital when their children were born in 1996-97.
At issue is whether psychological aggression -- name-calling, arguing and slamming doors -- and physical abuse between parents leads to harsh parenting in a high-risk sample across the early years of child rearing. Until recently, researchers have focused mostly on low-risk, middle class samples when trying to understand the role of partner aggression in the family. That focus also has often been on school-aged children, despite a growing understanding of the importance of the early environment in shaping healthy development.
"We have long been aware that high levels of family conflict can have a negative effect on children's development, but most people tend to think that this doesn't apply to babies. In fact, we are now finding that this notion of toxic stress in families applies to babies as well," said Philip A. Fisher, a professor of psychology at the UO and scientist at the independent, non-profit Oregon Social Learning Center. "We are finding that people should mind their relationships with their spouses, not just with their babies."
For the study, UO doctoral student Alice M. Graham, in collaboration with Fisher and Hyoun K. Kim, also a scientist at the Oregon Social Learning Center, revisited questionnaire data from 461 of the 488 initially recruited mothers who had provided information about their partner relationship during the four-year study period from birth through the child's third birthday.
"Even when we accounted for other important risk factors, such as maternal depression or history of abuse, we found that the level of partner aggression at the birth of a child and change over time predicts moms' harsh parenting at three years of age," Graham said. The moms' harsh parenting in turn predicted higher levels of behavior problems for the children at three years of age.
"This raises broader questions: Does partner aggression at the time of birth shape how moms see their kids? And how early in development might children be affected by aggression between partners?"
In collaboration with Jennifer Pfeifer, professor of psychology at the UO, Graham and Fisher are now using functional magnetic resonance imaging to explore the latter question at the level of brain functioning. "We are looking at whether sleeping infants show evidence of processing emotional tones of voice, and whether processing of an angry tone of voice differs depending on the level of partner aggression in the home," Graham said.
The neuroimaging research will help us better understand the direct effects of aggression on children, said Fisher, who currently serves as science director for the National Forum on Early Childhood Policy and Programs and as a senior fellow at the Center on the Developing Child, both at Harvard University. "Early conflict may be interfering with the ability to be positive, nurturing parents," he said. "We need to be concerned about how this may affect the children."
The findings of the new paper are intriguing, said Kimberly Andrews Espy, vice president for research and innovation at the UO.
"They raise questions to whether these patterns of parenting are enduring and thus affect child development, or whether there is something unique about infancy that produces such longer term impacts," Espy said. "This work shows the power of translational clinical neuroscience at the UO, where cutting-edge science findings can be coupled with modern neuroimaging approaches to hopefully lead to new intervention approaches that help parents interact better and, in turn, reduce deleterious impacts on the developing child."
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