Posts by Ibrar Ayyub:
Natural selection can favor 'irrational' behavior
Posted on: 15 Jan 2014
It seems paradoxical that a preference for which of two houses to buy could depend on another, inferior, house – but researchers at the University of Bristol have identified that seemingly irrelevant alternatives can, and should, influence choices. Even more remarkable is the finding that optimal choices can violate the principle of transitivity: it can be best to choose A from A or B, and choose B from B or C, but choose C from A or C.
Researchers examine nitrous oxide emissions in streams and rivers
Posted on: 14 Jan 2014
A relatively unknown, hidden, artificial stream, called a “flume,” located in the basement of the Idaho Water Center at Broadway and Front streets in downtown Boise is the site of a collaborative research initiative by scientists from Boise State University and the University of Idaho (UI). The project is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
ATtiny programmer using Arduino ISP
Posted on: 14 Jan 2014
For relatively small (less number of pins than ATmega328) projects, ATtiny series, ATtiny45 or Attiny85 are good choice in terms of its physical size (8-DIP or 8-SOIC) and low power consumption. There are many ways to program it. One of the popular device is USBtinyISP and DASA. Both of them work very well with WinAVR […]
Michigan Tech researches feasibility of drone use in transportation
Posted on: 14 Jan 2014
(Phys.org) —Everyone knows what drones are, right? They have gained visibility for use in military and monitoring applications, but have a wide variety of more ‘friendly’, useful applications here at home, such as helping understand the condition of our transportation infrastructure. They are flying machines, operated for a given purpose either autonomously or remotely, that have uses well beyond their better-known reputation.
By blocking key signal, researchers maintain embryonic stem cells in vital, undifferentiated state
Posted on: 13 Jan 2014
In a paper published in this week’s Online Early Edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine identify a key gene receptor and signaling pathway essential to maintaining human embryonic stem cells in an undifferentiated state.
Americans with and without children at home report similar life satisfaction but more positive and…
Posted on: 13 Jan 2014
Americans aged 34 to 46 with children at home rate their life satisfaction at higher levels than those without children at home, according to a report by Princeton University and Stony Brook University published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. However, the researchers say that factors such as higher educational attainment, higher income, better health and religiosity all enhance life satisfaction and that, once these are taken into account, parents and nonparents have similar levels of life satisfaction.
How fruit flies detect sweet foods: Research opens door for investigations into taste receptors of…
Posted on: 13 Jan 2014
Insects represent remarkable diversity and have adapted to all sorts of ecological nooks and crannies. For example, they have taste receptors—novel proteins—with which they taste chemicals and make important choices about not only foods but also mates and where to deposit their eggs
Hang up or hold on? Study helps call centers know when patience is running out
Posted on: 13 Jan 2014
Press “1” if you’re tired of being on hold! Nobody likes to wait, but since customer service can’t be packaged to sit on a shelf ready when we need it, everybody has to “get in line” for help from banks, credit card companies, stores, healthcare or tech support. These days, that usually means dialing a call center somewhere in the world, which makes understanding caller patience increasingly important.
Understanding secondary light emission by plasmonic nanostructures may improve medical imaging
Posted on: 13 Jan 2014
Applications in imaging and sensing typically involve the emission of light at a different wavelength than the excitation, or “secondary light emission.” The interpretation of resonant secondary light emission in terms of fundamental processes has been controversial for 40 years. In this work, researchers found that resonant electronic Raman scattering and resonant fluorescence may both be useful descriptions of the secondary emission.
Jagged graphene can slice into cell membranes
Posted on: 13 Jan 2014
A collaboration of biologists, engineers, and material scientists at Brown University has found that jagged edges of graphene can easily pierce cell membranes, allowing graphene to enter the cell and disrupt normal function. Understanding the mechanical forces of nanotoxicity should help engineers design safer materials at the nanoscale. PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — Researchers from […]
