The Malaysian Insider :: Features
The Malaysian Insider :: Features |
| USM researchers produce world’s first organic composite dental filing Posted: 09 Jun 2013 03:33 AM PDT  The new innovation would potentially replace the conventional amalgam dental filling. - Reuters pic KOTA BARU, June 9 — A team of researchers from the School of Dental Science at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in Kubang Kerian here has produced the world's first organic composite dental filling, made from rice husk. Team leader Prof Dr Ismail Ab Rahman said the innovation, which would potentially replace the conventional amalgam dental filling, was the culmination of a research which began in 2011 under a USM three-year research grant of RM242,500. "It complies with dental international standards, can be produced at a lower cost, has a longer shelf life and a conceivably wide market," he told a press conference here today. Dr Ismail said they chose rice husk because it had a comparably high silica content of 10 per cent, and the estimated cost of producing 4gms of Composite Rice Husk (CRH) was only RM44 compared to the amalgam market price of between RM130 and RM200, depending on grade. "Amalgam has been used as dental fillings for a long time but they can be toxic if used incorrectly, corrosive and unaesthetic. The colour of nanocomposite resin is similar to teeth, hence the choice," he said of the innovation which bagged a gold medal at the 24th International Invention, Innovation & Technology Exhibition (ITEX) 2013 last month. Meanwhile, another USM researcher, Dr Zuraida Zainun also won a gold medal at the exhibition for her Bal ex Zuraida-Shah Rotatory Chair which can be used for body imbalance therapy and rehabilitation. "The U.S. first invented the chair which costs RM275,000 each; there are only two in Malaysia, at Hospital Prince Court and Pantai Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur. I took the initiative to produce it, with the cooperation of researchers from Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UNIMAP), at a cost of only about RM11,000," she said. – Bernama |
| Shoe insole charges your mobile devices Posted: 09 Jun 2013 02:06 AM PDT  SolePower's power-generating shoe insert charges portable electronics on-the-go. - AFP pic LOS ANGELES, June 9 — A US startup has devised a shoe insert that can transform energy generated from walking into usable energy to power portable devices, including mobile phones, GPS devices, and fitness trackers. SolePower, now a live Kickstarter campaign hoping to earn US$50,000 (RM154,675) to take the product development further, aims to charge a mobile phone after 4 kilometres of walking. Beta testing is expected this summer, with full production and shipping expected by the end of 2014. A pledge of US$75 buys you an insole, if you live in the US. For international backers, you'll need to pledge US$100, plus US$15 shipping. The insole fits into any shoe, with the usable electrical power stored in a rechargeable battery that you fasten around your ankle, which can then be plugged into a portable device for on-the-go charging. While this could certainly be convenient for mobile phone users who burn through their batteries throughout the day, wearers of fitness trackers might also enjoy a fringe benefit to all that moving about. The company adds: "A business person might use SolePower walking a trade show floor, a hiker would find SolePower very useful for charging cameras or GPS on long hikes, anyone in a natural disaster (i.e., hurricane Sandy) could use SolePower for emergencies." Another company offering a similar device is watchmaker Seiko, which offers a self-charging watch called Kinetic, reports Mobihealthnews. "In a crowded field where everyone is looking for an edge over the competition, it seems like it will only be a matter of time before we see an activity-powered activity tracker," the website added. – AFP-Relaxnews |
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