2015年12月31日 星期四

PlutoFlyBy‬


#1 – Our number one Facebook post this year came at the height of the‪#‎PlutoFlyby‬ mission by NASA's New Horizons' spaceship. (Johns Hopkins’ Applied Physics Lab led the mission.) The video we created went viral (at least by our standards!)
We look forward to many more future viral space videos in 2016. Happy New Year, everyone!

2:25/2:29
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In less than a week, the historic ‪#‎PlutoFlyBy‬ will happen, with the New Horizons spacecraft, built and operated by JHU's Applied Physics Laboratory, getting
close and snapping the first high-resolution images of this mysterious dwarf planet. Here's how far New Horizons has traveled over space and time:

2015年12月30日 星期三

發現 so called「聰明基因」



倫敦帝國學院科學家指出,他們發現兩個能夠決定人類智商的基因序列網絡。


(倫敦27日訊)英國科學家發現「聰明基因」,並認為這一發現能夠利用來提升人類智力,未來或許有助於開發更高效的神經系統疾病療法。

倫敦帝國學院科學家在新一期的《自然·神經學》雜誌上發表的研究報告指出,他們發現兩個能夠決定人類智商的基因序列網絡,科學家認為,這個發現可被利用來提升人類腦力。

報告闡釋道,這兩條基因群是研究人員在檢查癲癇患者大腦時發現的,分別被稱為M1和M3,每個基因群由數百個個體基因組成。它們會影響我們的認知功能,包括記憶力、注意力、處理速度和推理能力等等。

參與研究的神經科學家約翰遜用足球隊的類比來解釋這兩條基因序列決定智商的原理:當所有球員各就各位時,系統就能良好運轉,也就造成了我們所說的才思敏捷。但是當這兩條基因未被表達,或是產生了突變,則會造成遲鈍、甚至嚴重的認知障礙。

約翰遜指出,這項發現意味著,未來有可能通過調控機制,調節與人類智商有關基因簇,從而改變智商,但「目前這只在理論上具有可行性」。此外,相關研究有助開發出更好的療法來治療癲癇症等神經系統疾病以及認知障礙。

根據此前研究,人類智商(IQ)75%由基因決定,其餘的25%則受家庭、學校和朋友等外在環境因素影響。此前一直沒有人能準確說出甚麼基因決定智商。上述研究或能夠為此做出解釋。

光處理器問世,速度比現行處理器快 50 倍

世界上第一個靠「光」傳輸資料的微處理器終於問世,而這項突破性的科技或許能成為半導體產業迎接 2016 年的新曙光。

2015年12月29日 星期二

微軟和IBM的空氣質量預報應用中國霧霾

 微軟和IBM的空氣質量預報應用中國霧霾

中國霧霾頻發外國科技巨頭忙撈金
中國的空氣污染問題蘊藏商機。世界兩大科技巨頭——IBM和微軟爭相開拓中國空氣質量預測市場。這一全球碳排放量最大國的空氣質量預測市場剛剛興起,但發展迅猛。
China Smog
(德國之聲中文網)本月,重度霧霾頻頻來襲,迫使北京發布了兩次前所未有的"紅色警報"。這一最高級別的警報旨在告訴該市的2200萬居民,嚴重空氣污染或將持續3天以上。
此類預警離不開污染預測技術的進步。中共領導層希望通過改善霧霾監測和治理措施來回應日益高漲的公眾訴求,因此污染預測技術的進步對其而言日益重要。
中國正在籌備2022年冬奧會,而冬季往往是北京霧霾最嚴重的季節,所以官員們對此頗為重視。微軟研究員鄭宇表示:"人們愈加關注空氣質量預測服務。越來越多的人關心這一信息技術。"
美國地球化學家格雷澤西克(Dustin Grzesik)最先在中國發布空氣預測信息。這位曾在北京居住的科學家於2013年創建了免費網站"辦事兒呢!( Banshirne.com )"及配套的智能手機應用。他利用公開的氣象和風力數據預測空氣質量。
關注壞境問題的美國非盈利機構"伯克利地球(Berkeley Earth)"一直在繪製中國的實時污染地圖。該機構的羅德(Robert Rohde)介紹:"如果可以預測天氣的話,只需多加一些變量,就能預測空氣質量。大多數時候,污染物的排放不會很快發生變化。"
霧霾商機
IBM Logo
IBM的首批客戶是北京環保局
微軟和IBM分別在其位於中國的研究實驗室裡開發了各自的污染預測技術,並於去年雙雙迎來首批政府客戶。
IBM的首批客戶是北京環保局。其按色分級預警就是基於IBM的技術。
12月早些時候,IBM與北京市環保局共同創辦了"聯合環境創新中心",以便政府官員可以在污染最惡劣的時候採取更好地減排措施。
但是,北京市政府僅在其網站上發布24小時空氣質量預報,這意味著居民無法知道"紅色預警"可能何時到來。北京市環境保護監測中心沒有回复路透​​社的置評請求。
另外,IBM還與2022年冬奧會的舉辦城市張家口簽訂了協議,就冬奧會的前期規劃和應對措施展開合作。
而微軟則與中國環保部、福建環保廳及成都環保局簽署了相關協議。
除中國之外,IBM還與印度德里和南非約翰內斯堡簽訂了空氣質量預測協議。新德里是全世界污染最嚴重的城市之一。
IBM"綠色地平線(Green Horizo​​ns)"項目負責人加蒙斯(Brad Gammons)表示:"我們應該可以利用這一系統對世界不同地方的空氣質量進行預測。借助機器學習技術,我們將很快能夠做到這一點。"
這兩家公司不只是爭奪政府客戶,企業客戶、尤其是可再生能源發電企業、以及普通消費者也是他們的競爭目標。中國目前已有超過30家太陽能發電廠正在使用IBM的預測技術。這一技術也能幫助他們預測陽光照射值。
微軟開發了一個名為" Urban Air "的網站和相關的手機應用,用戶可看到未來48小時的空氣質量狀況。而中國網球公開賽則通過其微信公眾號發布IBM有關北京各公園空氣污染的48小時預報。
然而,微軟和IBM的空氣質量預報應用目前仍有不足之處。微軟最新的iPhone應用缺乏廣告中的預測功能,​​公司承認出現一處技術問題。最近"紅色預警"期間,北京的學校停課,但中國網球公開賽和IBM的預報系統卻建議民眾"輕度運動"。

2015年12月28日 星期一

microbiologist Stanley Falkow, the 2015 National Medal of Science

Congratulations to Stanford microbiologist Stanley Falkow, who has been awarded the 2015 National Medal of Science. Falkow, who will receive the award at a ceremony at the White House next month, is being recognized for his pioneering work in studying how bacteria can cause human disease and how antibiotic resistance spreads:http://stan.md/1OUgf7Z
Photo by L.A. Cicero/Stanford News Service

2015年12月27日 星期日

Chronometer watch



The term chronometer is a specific type of timepiece tested and certified to meet certain precision standards. In Switzerland, only timepieces certified by the Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres (COSC) may use the word 'Chronometer' on them. Outside Switzerland, equivalent bodies (such as the Japan Chronometer Inspection Institute) have in the past certified timepieces to the same internationally recognised standards, although use of the term has not always been strictly controlled.
The term chronometer was coined by Jeremy Thacker of Beverly, England in 1714, referring to his invention of a clock ensconced in a vacuum chamber. The term chronometer is also used to describe a marine chronometer used for celestial navigation and determination of longitude. The marine chronometer was invented by John Harrison in 1730. This was the first of a series of chronometers that enabled accurate marine navigation. From then on, an accurate chronometer was essential to deep sea marine or air navigation out of sight of land. Early in the Twentieth Century the advent of radiotelegraphy time signals supplemented the onboard marine chronometer for marine and air navigation, and various radio navigation systems were invented, developed, and implemented during and following the Second World War (e.g., GeeSonne a.k.a.ConsolLORAN(-A and -C), Decca Navigator System and Omega Navigation System) that significantly reduced the need for positioning using the onboard marine chronometer. These culminated in the development and implementation of global satellite navigation systems (GSN-GPS) in the last half of the 20th century. The marine chronometer is no longer used as the primary means for navigation at sea, although it is still required as a backup, since radio systems and their associated electronics can fail for a variety of reasons.
Once mechanical timepiece movements developed sufficient precision to allow for accurate marine navigation, there eventually developed what became known as "chronometer competitions" at astronomical observatories located in Europe. The Neuchâtel ObservatoryGeneva ObservatoryBesancon Observatory, and Kew Observatory are prominent examples of observatories that certified the accuracy of mechanical timepieces. The observatory testing regime typically lasted for 30 to 50 days and contained accuracy standards that were far more stringent and difficult than modern standards such as those set by COSC. When a movement passed the Observatory, it became certified as an Observatory Chronometer and received a Bulletin de Marche from the Observatory, stipulating the performance of the movement. Because only very few movements were ever given the attention and manufacturing level necessary to pass the Observatory standards, there are very few Observatory Chronometers in existence. Most Observatory Chronometers had movements so specialized to accuracy that they could never withstand being used as wristwatches in normal usage. They were useful only for accuracy competitions, and so never were sold to the public for usage. However, in 1966 and 1967,Girard Perregaux manufactured approximately 670 wristwatches with the Calibre 32A movement, which became Observatory Chronometers certified by the Neuchatel Observatory, while in 1968, 1969 and 1970 Seiko had 226 wristwatches with its 4520 and 4580 Calibres certified. These Observatory Chronometers were then sold to the public for normal usage as wristwatches, and some examples may still be found today. The Observatory competitions ended with the advent of the quartz watch movement, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, which generally have superior accuracy at far lesser costs.

精密手錶,又被稱作天文台表英語Chronometer watch),是經過測試和認證符合一定精密標準的一種手錶

クロノメーターChronometer )は、
  • 船の揺れや温度変化に影響されない、高精度な携帯用ぜんまい時計。
  • デテント式脱進機を装備した時計。
  • 天文台で精度検定を受けた時計。
  • クロノメーター検定協会による検定に合格した機械式時計。
名称はギリシア神話の時間神クロノスに由来する。クロノグラフとは名称が似ているが別物である。


Charles Darwin embarked on his journey on the HMS Beagle‪#‎onthisday‬ in 1831. The observations Darwin made on this momentous voyage would lead to his theory of evolution. This is the ship’s chronometer, made by Thomas Earnshaw, originally an extraordinarily skilled watchmaker. This chronometer is a precise timekeeper and also contains a temperature compensation balance. This balance was designed to keep the timekeeper running at a constant rate in the varying ambient temperatures encountered at sea. While the mechanisms within chronometers were simple, they were made to very exacting standards and the escapement makers, finishers and adjusters were among the highest skilled in the clock-making world. The dial indicates hours, minutes and seconds. The whole machine is housed in a simple wooden box with mounts to keep it level irrespective of the motion of the ship http://ow.ly/Vs5IQ

2015年12月22日 星期二

Bacteria that resist 'last antibiotic' found in UK. New 'superbug' found in UK hospitals


Bacteria that resist 'last antibiotic' found in UK
  • 21 December 2015
  •  
  • From the sectionHealth

Media captionWhat is a superbug?
Bacteria that resist the most common antibiotic of last resort - colistin - have been discovered in the UK.
Officials say the threat to human health is low, but is under ongoing review.
Scientists warned the world was on the cusp of a post-antibiotic era when such resistance was discovered in China last month.
Now checks have discovered the same resistance on three farms and in samples of human infections.
When all other antibiotics fail then doctors turn to colistin - that's why it is so important.
Doctors in the UK thought they had three years before colistin-resistance would spread from China to the UK.
But Public Health England and the Animal and Plant Health Agency began testing for it.
Public Health England has gone through the 24,000 bacterial samples it keeps on record from cases between 2012 and 2015.
Colistin-resistance was discovered in fifteen of them, including samples of Salmonella and E. Coli.
The Animal and Plant Health Agency has discovered colistin-resistant bacteria on three pig farms.
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Analysis

E coliImage copyrightSCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
The news will not be a massive surprise after similar discoveries in parts of Europe, Asia and Africa.
It raises the prospect of untreatable infections - what is known as the antibiotic apocalypse and threatens to plunge medicine back into the dark ages.
The DNA that gives bacteria resistance to colistin - the mcr-1 gene - can spread rapidly between species.
The concern is that colistin-resistance will now find its way into other superbugs to create infections that doctors cannot treat.
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Prof Alan Johnson, from Public Health England, said: "Our assessment is that the public health risk posed by this gene is currently considered very low, but is subject to ongoing review as more information becomes available.
"The organisms identified can be killed by cooking your food properly and all the bacteria we identified with this gene were responsive to other antibiotics, called carbapenems.
"We will monitor this closely, and will provide any further public advice as needed."
How resistance spreads
The Chinese resistance cases were down to overuse of antibiotics in agriculture.
Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics says 837kg of colistin was sold to British farms in 2014.
Coilin Nunan, from the Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics, said: "We need the government, the European Commission and regulatory bodies like the Veterinary Medicines Directorate to respond urgently.
"The routine preventative use in farming of colistin, and all antibiotics important in human medicine, needs to be banned immediately."
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said colistin made up just 0.2% of the antibiotics used in livestock in the UK.
A spokesperson said: "We are enhancing our surveillance for colistin resistance, and veterinary prescribers have voluntarily updated prescribing guidelines to restrict use of colistin in animals."


E. coliNDM-1 has been found in E.coli bacteria
A new superbug that is resistant to even the most powerful antibiotics has entered UK hospitals, experts warn.
They say bacteria that make an enzyme called NDM-1 have travelled back with NHS patients who went abroad to countries like India and Pakistan for treatments such as cosmetic surgery.
Although there have only been about 50 cases identified in the UK so far, scientists fear it will go global.
Tight surveillance and new drugs are needed says Lancet Infectious Diseases.

Start Quote

The fear would be that it gets into a strain of bacteria that is very good at being transmitted between patients”
Dr David LivermoreResearcher from the HPA
NDM-1 can exist inside different bacteria, like E.coli, and it makes them resistant to one of the most powerful groups of antibiotics - carbapenems.
These are generally reserved for use in emergencies and to combat hard-to-treat infections caused by other multi-resistant bacteria.
And experts fear NDM-1 could now jump to other strains of bacteria that are already resistant to many other antibiotics.
Ultimately, this could produce dangerous infections that would spread rapidly from person to person and be almost impossible to treat.
At least one of the NDM-1 infections the researchers analysed was resistant to all known antibiotics.
Similar infections have been seen in the US, Canada, Australia and the Netherlands and international researchers say that NDM-1 could become a major global health problem.
Infections have already been passed from patient to patient in UK hospitals.
Map showing infection hotspots in the UK and India
The way to stop NDM-1, say researchers, is to rapidly identify and isolate any hospital patients who are infected.
Normal infection control measures, such as disinfecting hospital equipment and doctors and nurses washing their hands with antibacterial soap, can stop the spread.
And currently, most of the bacteria carrying NDM-1 have been treatable using a combination of different antibiotics.

Analysis

The Indian health ministry and the medical fraternity are yet to see the Lancet report but doctors in India say they are not surprised by the discovery of the new superbug.
"There is little drug control in India and an irrational use of antibiotics," Delhi-based Dr Arti Vashisth told the BBC.
Doctors say common antibiotics have become ineffective in India partly because people can buy them over the counter and indulge in self-medication. They also take small doses and discontinue treatment.
Gastroenterologist Vishnu Chandra Agarwal says in the past year he has come across many patients with E.coli infections who have not responded to regular antibiotics.
"In about a dozen cases, I have used a chemical - furadantin - to treat my patients. And it has worked. It makes them horribly nauseous, but it works," he says.
But the potential of NDM-1 to become endemic worldwide is "clear and frightening", say the researchers in The Lancet infectious diseases paper.
The research was carried out by experts at Cardiff University, the Health Protection Agency and international colleagues.
Dr David Livermore, one of the researchers and who works for the UK's Health Protection Agency (HPA), said: "There have been a number of small clusters within the UK, but far and away the greater number of cases appear to be associated with travel and hospital treatment in the Indian subcontinent.
"This type of resistance has become quite widespread there.
"The fear would be that it gets into a strain of bacteria that is very good at being transmitted between patients."
He said the threat was a serious global public health problem as there are few suitable new antibiotics in development and none that are effective against NDM-1.
The Department of Health has already put out an alert on the issue, he said.
"We issue these alerts very sparingly when we see new and disturbing resistance."
Travel history
The National Resistance Alert came in 2009 after the HPA noted an increasing number of cases - some fatal - emerging in the UK.
The Lancet study looked back at some of the NDM-1 cases referred to the HPA up to 2009 from hospitals scattered across the UK.
At least 17 of the 37 patients they studied had a history of travelling to India or Pakistan within the past year, and 14 of them had been admitted to a hospital in these countries - many for cosmetic surgery.
For some of the patients the infection was mild, while others were seriously ill, and some with blood poisoning.
A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "We are working with the HPA on this issue.
"Hospitals need to ensure they continue to provide good infection control to prevent any spread, consider whether patients have recently been treated abroad and send samples to HPA for testing.
"So far there has only been a small number of cases in UK hospital patients. The HPA is continuing to monitor the situation and we are investigating ways of encouraging the development of new antibiotics with our European colleagues."
The Welsh Assembly Government said it would be "fully considering" the report.
"The NHS in Wales is used to dealing with multi-resistant bacteria using standard microbiological approaches, and would deal with any new bacteria in a similar way," said a spokesperson.

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