Nanotechnology Research

IMEC (www.imec.com), a nanotechnology research center based in Leuven, Belgium, has developed a unique microchip with microscopic nail structures that enables close communication between electronics and biological cells.

IMEC’s micronail chip (see photo) can be used to study the communication mechanisms between cells, such as cardiomyocytes (heart cells) or neurons (brain cells). The electrodes in the chip are the size of cells and even smaller. They consist of tiny nail structures made of a metal stem covered with an oxide layer, and a conductive (e.g. gold or titanium nitride) tip. When cells are applied on the chip surface, the cell membranes naturally engulf the nail structures, thereby creating a strong contact with the electrode. This close contact improves signal-to-noise ratio, enabling precise recording of electrical signals and electrical stimulation of single cells.

Related articles

• Nanowires That Behave Like Cells (technologyreview.com)
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Veterans Day

Today, we pay tribute to the valor of those who have honored our state, crossed an ocean, left their families behind and answered the call to serve. And we pay our solemn respects to the 118 Hoosiers and 6195 warriors who have made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan and Iraq. Thank you veterans.

A Trillion dollars for oil next year -count on it

In September 2009, we imported 357 million barrels of oil at a cost of $25 billion. That represented about 63 percent of the oil we consumed in September. At current prices, we will spend about a third of a trillion dollars on imported oil over a 12-month period. That is money circulating through the economies of Saudi Arabia, Nigeria and Venezuela instead of South Carolina, North Dakota and Virginia.

Related articles – Read & Weep

• Facts About US Energy (eagleviews.org)


• Crude World: The Violent Twilight of Oil by Peter Maass | Book review (guardian.co.uk)

Young Man builds wind generator

If you w ish you can follow on http://williamkamkwamba.typepad.com/

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arD374MFk4w

Lunch today is

After putting three more loads of leaves near the beach and trimmed some trees and cut up a downed hickory.  We should be winding down but my predicition is this will be a 35 load year.  Now I am hungry and it looks like chicken salad and squash.  Later I might have some Herring in Wine Sauce later. Mummm. 

I started taking 500mg Vit C and 1000 of Vit D3 this morning.  I will probably go in for routine blood work tomorrow AM.  It will be interesting to see what my D3 level is as SAM’s was 50% or the recommended level.  It is funny because we are in the sun a lot.

A delay in my posting this article makes it after lunch: Squash, Chicken salad and a piece of apple pie with old fashion crust.  Great!

Related article

• Tapioca and Chicken Dry Curry – Best Combination (kisaso.com)

Flaw in US Data Overstates Growth, Productivity

“A widening gap between data and reality is distorting the government’s picture of the country’s economic health, overstating growth and productivity in ways that could affect the political debate on issues like trade, wages and job creation.”  Click the link below to read the short article

http://www.cnbc.com/id/33786428

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A quick dash North

Left at 0945 this AM for a trip to Holland, MI via Saugatuck.  Stopped at the boat to get some things we left and departed for the dentist office for a quick tooth cleaning.  The next one will be towards the end of May and we will be back on the boat by then.  The Dr. & cleaner said they thought my gum health was real good.

Not too much to say about the trip but that it was the winter shades of brown all the way and we took a new route from Holland down to the junction of 40/89.  By the time I arrived back in PL I was whipped.

Finished watching episodes 3 &4 of Surface.  Reasonably good but not quite believable as there is too much of a disconnect from the starlet & the mad scientist.  An interesting sci-fi series.

An interesting article

• Microsoft Surface Has Twitter Client And Some Nice Healthcare Related Software (ducknetweb.blogspot.com)

Westerly Winds

I finally went to the store last night and got some 5 minute JB Weld and epoxied the old hard drive bearing to the top of the the steel pole I have had in inventory for the last 10 years.  To this I added a bit of Aluminum angle I had.  After drilling a couple of hole and cutting a arrow feather type of indicator I attache the wind sock.  All this being done, I took it down to the beach and planted it into the marl.  I now have a roller bearing indicator with a wind sock attached.  The 15 kt winds of today let it show it’s stuff.  Hopefully, it will last for years.

After that came the leaves – another 4 loads for today and it looks like a sure 4 more loads.  That good old Westerly wind was blowing the neighbors leaves to us as well.  Last year we missed the event but this year we continue the tradition of loading an extra 10 loads and we might make 40 this year – a record.  Thanks to Marvin, Gene and Loren.

Rogue at the airport

There is a rogue at the airport causing trouble.  The subject involved was a contender for airport FBO and, as it turns out, was rightly rejected.  The rogue does not seem able to get along in civilized society or function as a mature adult.  I know I am ranting but this is serious.  The dirty rat sicked the State IDEM on a non existent problems that is going to cause the taxpayers a lot of $$$ we do not have.  He also destroyed in a day what a group has spent a year building.  Boy am I glad he did not get to be the FBO.  End of rant.

Related aviation articles

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• U.S. crash kills pilot bound for Ontario (cbc.ca)

Fall weather

We did four mor loads of leaves yesterday and this brings the total to 21 loads.  The yard looks pretty clean – as clean as it can be without raking – and our westerly neighbor is a startling contrast since the dividing line is well defined by his leaves on the ground to our none.  I think he is waiting for the West winds to blow them over to us.  This is no joke as he never works down below but only on the upper yard.

Tonight is the security detail at AG and it will be the first time outside today.  I have updated the ITS Michigan website and played around with unhub.com and socialoomph.com.  Social Oomph lost some of its value when Twitter said they were in violation of the Terms of Agreement for repeat posting of bylines.

Yesterday I set up gmail, facebook and twitter accounts for my area Pickens Plan but I see no value as yet so I might delete or de-activate them.  I heard about a guy in Ohio who used it to his advantage but I see no value yet.  Unhub might have some value but I have not got too deep into the details yet.  Speaking of Pickens Plan – not only are they promoting Natural Gas but also wind power & here is a map of wind strengths.  Indiana has a big wind farm in the NW part.

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